Association des Utilisateurs de Transport de Fret

What Association des Utilisateurs de Transport de Fret does

Association des Utilisateurs de Transport de Fret (AUTF) is a French non-profit professional association, structured under the loi 1901 framework and headquartered in Paris (8th arrondissement). It represents the interests of freight users — known as "chargeurs" or shippers — across all transport modes (road, rail, inland waterway, maritime, air) and customs. Founded in 1992, the association's stated mission is to defend and promote the collective interests of French shippers in dialogue with public authorities, transport operators, and infrastructure managers. AUTF aggregates a multisectoral membership spanning large industrial and consumer enterprises, and participates in national logistics governance as a founding member of France Logistique.

AUTF's core offerings centre on a portfolio of institutional programmes and labels. The flagship is FRET21, a decarbonation device co-developed with ADEME since 2015, which enables member companies to structure and report freight emissions reduction plans. Companion offerings include the REMO and REMOVE modal-shift programmes (also with ADEME), the Fresque du Fret collaborative workshop launched in partnership with Ovrsea in 2024, and an Economie d'Energie CEE financing-adjacent service. AUTF also publishes the annual Baromètres de perception des Chargeurs, produced with Eurogroup Consulting and PwC, and in June 2025 launched a new collective, FRET IMPACT, extending its decarbonation and freight-transition product surface.

AUTF's revenue model is membership-driven and non-profit. Income is generated principally through membership fees from corporate chargeurs, fees for participation in the FRET21, REMO, Fresque du Fret, and FRET IMPACT programmes, and partnership contributions from public bodies such as ADEME and port authorities (HAROPA, Marseille-Fos, Dunkerque). The association employs between 11 and 50 people (roughly 27 visible on LinkedIn), is led by President Yves Antoine, and maintains a digital presence on standard association-grade infrastructure (Odoo, Azure, WordPress). As a non-profit, AUTF does not publish revenue.

Name

Association des Utilisateurs de Transport de Fret

Legal name

AUTF (Association des Utilisateurs de Transport et Fret)

Website

https://autf.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AUTF is a French non-profit association representing freight shippers (chargeurs) across all transport modes, providing decarbonation programmes such as FRET21 and FRET IMPACT, modal-shift initiatives with ADEME, and policy advocacy for its multisectoral corporate membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AUTF generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees paid by industrial, agricultural, and commercial enterprises that act as freight ordering clients (chargeurs), including companies operating private transport fleets. Membership provides access to commissions, working groups, barometers, and decarbonization programs.
2. Decarbonation Services and Programs: AUTF offers paid accompaniment services to members for decarbonation projects through partnerships with Economie d'Energie (CEE certificates), and manages fee-based programs including FRET21 label certification and training/workshops such as Fresque du Fret. These services generate revenue through program fees and partner arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AUTF is a French non-profit professional association that represents freight shippers (chargeurs) — industrial, agricultural, and commercial companies that move goods. It delivers industry advocacy, runs decarbonation and modal-shift programs (FRET21, REMO), publishes annual perception barometers of shippers, operates a collaborative training workshop (Fresque du Fret), and convenes working commissions covering road, rail, river, maritime, air, and customs.

Product overview

AUTF is a professional association representing Chargeurs (shippers) in freight transport, offering a portfolio of programs, tools, and services focused on decarbonation and modal shift. The core offerings include FRET21 (decarbonation device and label), REMO (modal shift device), and Fresque du Fret (training workshop), complemented by Baromètres de perception des Chargeurs (annual perception surveys), CEE financing support, and France Logistique membership. The organization structures its activities through two poles: Continental (road, rail, river transport) and International (maritime, air, customs), providing advocacy, information, and support services to member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FRET21: A device and label dedicated to supporting companies in decarbonizing their logistics chains, initiated by AUTF alongside ADEME in 2015.
• FRET IMPACT
• Fresque du Fret

Quantifiable outcome

• Road freight transport now represents only 5.2% of national greenhouse gas emissions in France, down from previous levels due to sector improvements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• France Logistique - Collective for Logistics InnovationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2025AUTF participates as a founding member in the France Logistique innovation collective, which includes eight major private logistics and freight companies and five professional organizations. The collective published a manifesto in March 2025 committing to joint work on competitiveness, environment, and workforce priorities for the French logistics sector, with plans for a white paper on sector transformation.
• ADEME (Agence de la Transition Ecologique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF and ADEME co-develop and co-manage the FRET21 decarbonation program and the REMOVE/REMO modal shift program for freight transport. These are the association's flagship offerings, providing GES reduction methodology, CEE financing support, and third-party certification (FRET21 label) for chargeurs. A new strategic collaboration convention was signed in March 2026 to deepen this partnership. AUTF and ADEME also co-organize the Fresque du Fret workshop program and the FRET IMPACT collective launched in June 2025.
• France LogistiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF is a founding member of France Logistique, a private-sector collective focused on logistics innovation, competitiveness, environment, and workforce development. AUTF participates in France Logistique's CILOG (Comité Interministériel de la Logistique) activities and contributes to the organization's white papers and collective initiatives.
• Eurogroup ConsultingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurogroup Consulting partners with AUTF to conduct the annual Barometer of Shipper Perception, surveying chargeurs on their experience and expectations across all transport modes (road, rail, inland waterway, maritime, air) and customs. This 10+-year partnership produces the industry's most comprehensive longitudinal study of French shipper sentiment.
• PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPwC co-conducts the annual Barometer of Shipper Perception alongside Eurogroup Consulting and AUTF, providing consulting expertise for the methodology and analysis of chargeur sentiment across transport modes.
• OvrseaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF partnered with Ovrsea to co-develop the Fresque du Fret, a collaborative workshop designed to help chargeurs understand and act on the environmental impacts of freight transport. Ovrsea contributes its expertise to this awareness and decision-support tool.
• GNTC (Groupement National des Transports Combinés)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNTC experts contribute to AUTF's modal shift webinars and workshops by providing specialized knowledge on combined transport and rail freight, helping chargeurs identify eligible flows for modal shift.
• Economie d'EnergiemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEconomie d'Energie partners with AUTF to provide specialized CEE (Certificats d'Economies d'Energie) accompaniment services to AUTF members. The firm helps chargeurs identify eligible decarbonation actions, constitute CEE application dossiers, and access financing for projects including modal shift, vehicle electrification, telematics, and eco-driving. AUTF members benefit from preferential rates.
• GRDF (Gaz Réseau Distribution France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRDF partners with AUTF to inform and accompany chargeurs on natural gas for transport (BioGNV/gas) as an alternative fuel pathway for freight decarbonation. Joint activities include exchange days, circuit test events for hydrogen trucks, and site visits to methane production facilities.
• AFTRALminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFTRAL, a professional transport training organization, is a partner of AUTF on workforce development and skills. AUTF promotes AFTRAL's training programs to members and directs companies to use the professional training tax (taxe d'apprentissage) to support transport sector education.
• HAROPA PORT (Ports de Paris, Rouen, Le Havre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF signed an ambition declaration with HAROPA PORT ports alongside Marseille-Fos and Dunkerque, committing to cooperation on decarbonation, multimodal transport development, and supply chain optimization for French chargeurs.
• Port of Marseille-FosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF signed an ambition declaration with the Port of Marseille-Fos alongside HAROPA and Dunkerque, focusing on decarbonation, multimodal transport, and maritime logistics improvements for French shippers.
• Grand Port Maritime de DunkerqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF signed an ambition declaration with Dunkerque port alongside HAROPA and Marseille-Fos, establishing cooperation on decarbonation and maritime freight development for French chargeurs.
• EClasse Export (formerly CLASSE EXPORT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF partners with EClasse Export (formerly CLASSE EXPORT) to organize the annual Symposium Douane (Customs Symposium), providing chargeurs with strategic customs and international trade intelligence across major French economic regions.
• AXA ClimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAXA Climate participates in AUTF events as an expert contributor on climate risk and adaptation, contributing to the annual Evénement annuel des Chargeurs and panel discussions on climate adaptation strategies for transport actors.
• SNCF RéseauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNCF Réseau participates in AUTF events as a key infrastructure partner, contributing to discussions on rail freight development, infrastructure challenges, and modal shift opportunities for chargeurs.
• Voies Navigables de France (VNF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNF participates in AUTF events as the public authority managing France's inland waterway network, contributing to discussions on fluvial transport development and modal shift.
• MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUTF is a partner in the Blue Week event organized by MARIN in Marseille, co-hosting a half-day of experience exchange and partnerships for chargeurs focused on maritime innovation and sustainability.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• European Shippers' Council (ESC): Pan-European association representing shippers in EU policy on freight, customs, and transport. Direct equivalent to AUTF at the EU level; both advocate for chargeur interests in regulatory and policy forums, with ESC focusing on Brussels while AUTF focuses on French national policy.
• CLECAT (European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services): European association of logistics service providers covering freight forwarding, transport, and customs. Comparable multi-modal advocacy model to AUTF at EU level, with customs as a major focus area for both organizations.
• UIRR (International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport): European association promoting combined road-rail transport. Overlaps with AUTF's REMO modal shift program and continental pole focus on rail/fluvial/intermodal; comparable association structure for intermodal freight advocacy.
• Groupement National des Transports Combinés (GNTC): French association dedicated to combined/intermodal transport (rail-road, river-road). Direct overlap with AUTF's continental pole on rail, fluvial, and multimodal commissions; contributes expertise to AUTF webinars on modal shift.
• France Logistique: Multi-stakeholder collective for logistics innovation in France of which AUTF is a founding member. Comparable association model focused on competitiveness, environment, and workforce, with overlapping member base and policy advocacy scope.
• Union TLF (Transport et Logistique de France): Main French federation of transport and logistics service providers (carrier-side). AUTF's counterpart representing shippers; both operate in French freight policy advocacy and member services, making TLF the closest domestic peer for AUTF's overall association model.

Others

• AFTRAL: France's leading professional transport and logistics training organization; partner of AUTF on workforce development. Not a peer in the advocacy sense but a closely allied ecosystem player serving overlapping freight sector stakeholders.
• Eurogroup Consulting: Management consulting firm that co-produces AUTF's annual Barometer of Shipper Perception with PwC for 10+ years. Not a peer but a key service partner providing AUTF's flagship industry research asset.

Broad incumbents

• Fédération Nationale des Transports Routiers (FNTR): Federation representing road freight carriers in France. Adjacent to AUTF's road commission but represents the carrier side of the market rather than shippers; operates in overlapping French transport policy forums.

Regional players

• BGL (Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung): German road freight and logistics association. Functional equivalent to FNTR/AUTF's road freight commissions but in Germany; operates comparable advocacy and member services model in a different national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/autf
• Xx.com/autfchargeurs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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