Consignment note and eCMR
Legislation and regulatory compliance in the digitisation of road transport documents
The new obligation to digitise the control document in road transport, introduced by the Sustainable Mobility Law, marks the beginning of a new paperless era for the sector. To support companies in this transition, Docuten provides an end-to-end solution for the electronic issuance, signing and secure storage of the control document, the consignment note and the eCMR, ensuring full legal validity and more agile, secure and efficient workflows.
This page outlines the national and international regulatory framework governing the use of electronic documents in transport, including the mandatory digitisation of the control document, the eCMR Convention and the European eFTI Regulation.
The situation in Spain: a new digital era in road transport
Although the digitisation of the control document has now become mandatory under the Sustainable Mobility Law, the fact is that in Spain it has long been both operational and legally permitted to carry transport documentation in electronic format.
The Directorate-General for Transport had previously established the official mechanisms—still in force today—allowing companies to present these documents digitally during roadside inspections or checks.
To do so, documents may be displayed in electronic format following an official request to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, which authorises their use in accordance with the required administrative conditions.
Authorised methods for digital presentation
Linking to the URL where the electronic document is stored.
Provided to the driver, enabling enforcement officers to access the document during a roadside.
The new obligation for the digital control document
With the approval of the Sustainable Mobility Law, the digitisation of the control document is no longer a voluntary option and becomes a legal requirement for all road transport operations, affecting carriers, shippers and logistics operators alike.
This obligation requires that:
The control document be issued in digital format
Leaving paper behind as the primary medium.
The data and signatures associated with the document be available electronically
Ensuring traceability and real-time verification.
The document can be accessed immediately by the competent authority
Through authorised electronic systems.
The integrity, authenticity and preservation of the document are guaranteed
In accordance with technical and legal standards equivalent to those of traditional paper-based documentation.
In this context, Docuten’s solution enables full regulatory compliance: digital issuance, legally valid advanced electronic signatures, and secure electronic custody of the control document, the consignment note and the eCMR.
Digital signatures with full legal validity
The Directorate-General for Land Transport establishes that when transport documents—such as the control document, the consignment note or the eCMR—are signed electronically, the signature must comply with the requirements set out in Article 26 of the eIDAS Regulation.
This means that only an advanced electronic signature guarantees the necessary elements for the document to have full legal validity:
- Identification of the signer
- Exclusive control over the signing means
- Integrity of the signed document, ensuring it has not been altered afterwards
Therefore, for eCMRs, consignment notes, control documents and delivery notes to be fully valid in audits, inspections or legal proceedings, they must be signed at least using an advanced electronic signature in accordance with the eIDAS standard.
Docuten as a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP)
In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, Docuten provides an additional layer of assurance by operating as a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP)—the highest level of reliability under the eIDAS Regulation.
Being a Qualified Trust Service Provider means:
Compliance with the highest eIDAS standards
Subject to official audit and supervision by the competent authority.
Enhanced legal certainty
As the burden of proof is reversed in the case of advanced signatures, strengthening the validity of the signing process.
Provision of certified technical evidence
Such as qualified time stamps, full process traceability and the use of digital certificates, reinforcing evidence in the event of litigation, claims or inspections.
Guaranteed international interoperability
And cross-border recognition, as signatures issued are presumed legally valid throughout the European Union.
Types of advanced electronic signatures available with Docuten
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 Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention authorises the use of the consignment note in electronic format (eCMR). Thanks to this international agreement, 39 countries have now ratified or accepted the eCMR Protocol, allowing the paper consignment note to be replaced by its digital version with full legal validity.
This Convention:
- Legally recognises the eCMR as equivalent to the physical document.
- Harmonises its use and acceptance among the signatory countries.
- Enables the digital signing of the document and its exchange through secure electronic channels.
As a result, the eCMR has become a key standard for the digitisation of international road transport.
eFTI Regulation (EU 2020/1056)
The eFTI Regulation (Electronic Freight Transport Information) establishes a common European framework for the digital exchange of transport-related information. Its main objectives are to:
- Standardise how data is shared between companies and authorities.
- Ensure technical and legal interoperability across all Member States.
- Reduce administrative burdens and facilitate more agile, accurate and verifiable controls.
Digital documents such as the electronic consignment note and the eCMR fully fit within this ecosystem, which promotes more efficient, secure and modernised transport across the EU.
A solution ready for Europe’s digital transport future
Docuten eCMR is aligned with the eFTI Regulation (EU 2020/1056), which will define the common standard for transport digitisation across Europe. This enables our customers to operate safely in other European countries, even where only the general eFTI framework currently applies.
In addition, our API follows the data models defined by the European Union and UNECE, ensuring that current integrations will remain fully compatible with future regulatory requirements.
Although Spain is currently the only Member State with regulations mandating the digitisation of the control document, Docuten’s solution was designed from the outset with an international perspective.
In this way, Docuten ensures not only current compliance, but also continuity and robustness in the face of the evolving regulatory landscape of digital transport in Europe.
Key features
Docuten offers an eCMR solution designed to meet all legal requirements while simplifying the day-to-day operations of transport companies:
Direct integration with TMS and ERP systems
While maintaining existing workflows.
No-app signing
Via a link accessible by 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
Adapted to international operations.
Expert support from Spain
With personalised assistance at every stage of the process.
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.
