Countdown underway: The control document will be mandatory in digital format from October 2026

Digital transformation in road transport now has a fixed date under Spanish legislation. From 5 October 2026, the control document must be managed exclusively in electronic format. Following its parliamentary approval in November, the Sustainable Mobility Act was officially published in the Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE) on 4 December, triggering the regulatory timetable that will mark a turning point for the sector’s operations.

As of 5 December, a ten-month transition period begins. Once this period ends, the control document will have to be issued, signed, and stored solely in digital form, meeting all the guarantees required by Spanish regulations.

A structural change for transport: goodbye to paper

This new framework means the definitive end of paper-based processes and requires electronic systems that ensure authenticity, integrity, traceability, and immediate availability of the document in the event of an inspection. It also aligns Spanish road transport with European standards set out in the eFTI Regulation and the eCMR Protocol, driving a fully digital, EU-harmonised model.

If you would like a detailed explanation of what these changes involve and how they affect transport operations, you can read more here: The new framework for the control document in road transport following the approval of the Sustainable Mobility Act.

Docuten’s approach to the digital control document

Under the new law, it is not enough to simply generate the document digitally. For it to have full legal validity, it must be electronically signed with an advanced electronic signature, as defined by the eIDAS Regulation. In this context, Docuten, as a Qualified Trust Service Provider, offers an end-to-end solution for the issuance, electronic signing, and secure storage of the control document, the consignment note, and the eCMR.

This flexible solution is tailored to your day-to-day operations and ensures full regulatory compliance across all logistics documentation processes.

With Docuten’s solution, transport companies can digitise the control document securely and without operational friction, thanks to:

• Direct integration with TMS and ERP systems, preserving existing workflows.
• App-free signing, via a link accessible through SMS, WhatsApp, or email.
• Advanced electronic signatures issued by a Qualified Trust Service Provider, ensuring authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation.
• Full compliance with the eFTI Regulation, the eCMR protocol, and the European eIDAS framework.
• Multilingual solution, designed for international operations.
• Expert support from Spain, with personalised assistance at every stage of the process.

At Docuten, we support transport companies throughout this transition, ensuring robust regulatory compliance and secure, efficient digitalisation.

Contact us if you need further information.