Regulations on the Control Document (DeCA), waybill and eCMR
Legislation and regulatory compliance in the digitalization of road transport documents
A new digital era in road transport
In Spain, carrying transport documentation in electronic format was already legal before the Sustainable Mobility Act (Law 15/2009 already allowed waybills to be issued by electronic means). What changes now is that the digitalization of the control document becomes mandatory as of October 5, 2026.
The new obligation of the digital control document
With the approval of the Sustainable Mobility Law, the digitalization of the control document is no longer a voluntary option and becomes a legal requirement for all road transport operations, applying to carriers, shippers and logistics operators alike. As of October 5, 2026, it will be mandatory that:
Leaving behind paper as the primary format
Ensuring traceability and the possibility of real-time verification
Access is provided by scanning a QR code embedded in the document, which links to the unique HTTPS URL where it is stored, allowed it to be downloaded directly without credentials or manual interaction
Following technical and legal standards equivalent to the traditional paper format
Digital signature with full legal validity
The Resolution of June 5, 2026 establishes that signing the DeCA is not a legal requirement. However, when the document is used for contractual purposes or then the service’s operations require it, the signature must meet the requirements of Article 26 of the eIDAS Regulation.
This means that only an advance electronic signature guarantees the elements needed for the document to have full legal validity:
- Identification of the signatory
- Sole control over the signing means
- Integrity of the signed document, ensuring it has not been altered afterward
Therefore, for control documents, eCMR, waybills and delivery notes to be fully valid in audit, inspections or legal proceedings, they must be signed with at least an advanced signature, in accordance with the eIDAS standard.
Docuten as a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP)
In addition to this regulatory requirement, there is a further guarantee: Docuten acts as a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP), the highest level of reliability within the eIDAS Regulation.
Being a Qualified Trust Service Provider means:
Meeting the highest standards of the eIDAS Regulation
Subject to official audit and supervision by the competent authority
Delivering certified technical evidence
Such as qualified timestamps, full process traceability, and the use of digital certificates, which strangthen the evidence in the event of litigation, a claim, or an inspection
Providing greater legal certainty
Since, in the case of advanced signatures, the burd
Guaranteeing international interoperability
And cross-border recognition, given that the signatures issued carry a presumption of legal validity throughout the European Union
Types of advanced electronic signatures
To fully meet the legal requirements described above, Docuten allows these documents to be signed using different types of advanced electronic signatures:
Biometric signature
Captures dynamic handwritten data (pressure, speed, stroke) enabling unequivocal identification of the signer
OTP signature (One-Time Password)
Validation via a single-use code sent by SMS, WhatsApp or email, ensuring exclusive control by the signer
Automatic signature
Ideal for integrated, high-volume processes, using qualified or corporate certificates to automate signing with full legal validity
International legislation
In the international context, and particularly within the European Union, there is already a regulatory framework that enables the use, exchange and digital signing of road transport documents.
Below we outline the legal mechanisms that allow carriers, shippers and authorities to operate paperlessly, using electronic documents with full legal validity in cross-border operations.
eCMR convention
The eCMR convention (Electronic Consignment Note) adopted in Geneva on February 20, 2008 and in force since June 5, 2011, currently has 41 signatory countries, giving it full international legal validity for the carriage of goods by road
eFTI Regulation (EU 2020/1056)
The eFTI Regulation, approved in 2020, allows all transport documentation to be submitted in a common electronic format. It does not mandate the use of the eCMR, but it defines the standard toward which transport digitalization will evolve across Europe. The planned timeline is:
- July 2027: EU authorities become obligated to accept data from certified eFTI platforms, although their use is not mandatory for operators. The architecture connects private platforms (eFTI Platforms) with national gateways (eFTI Gates).
- Date pending: Entry into force of amendment to the ROTT (Article 222 of Royal Decree 1211/1990), which will transition the control document from the PDF + QR format to the transmission of structured eFTI data.
- 2029: the European Commission will assess whether operators should be required to submit documents in eFTI format, moving from operational to mandatory across the EU.
A solution ready for Europe’s digital transport future
Docuten eCMR is aligned with the eFTI Regulation (EU 2020/1056), the future common standard for transport digitalization in Europe.
As of July 2027, EU authorities will be required to accept data from certified eFTI platforms.
Our API follows the EU and UNECE data models, ensuring that current integrations will be compatible with future regulatory requirements. Although Spain is, for now, the only member state that madnates digitalizing the control document, Docuten was designed with an international outlook from the outset: current compliance and resilience in the face of Europe’s evolving regulations.
Key features
Keeping your current workflows in place
Drivers don’t need to download any app. They sign digitally trhough a secure link (SMS/Whatsapp/ email)
Guarantees the highest level of security and legal validity
Of the exact date and time the document is signed, reflected in the final document and as system metadata
A team of more than 40 people providing support from Spain
The platform is available in more than 10 languages and is used in over 90 countries
We store all documentation and records for at least 10 years, ensuring regulatory compliance and secure historical access
Docuten complies with Spanish regulations and European and international standards (eFTI and UNECE)
Docuten lets you sign and complete documents without a connection, storing the data securely. Once the internet is restored, the information syncs automatically
Integrate Docuten with your systems and applications
At Docuten, we provide our own APIs that allow customers to connect our services with any software: ERP, CRM, TMS, document management platforms and more.
We also offer dedicated connectors for MS Dynamics, SAP and SAGE.
