As of 5 October 2026, the Electronic Administrative Control Document (DeCA) is mandatory for public road freight transport and cabotage operations carried out within Spanish territory, in accordance with the eighth transitional provision of Law 9/2025 of 3 December on Sustainable Mobility. International shipments that travel partially through Spanish territory are therefore excluded, as they use the control documents established under the international agreements signed by Spain.
The Resolution of 5 June 2026 issued by the Directorate-General for Road and Rail Transport establishes the requirements that software applications used to manage DeCA documents must meet, as well as the specifications for the electronic files in which they are created and the web addresses from which they can be downloaded.
To facilitate day-to-day operations, the new resolution has removed the requirement to register in advance the domain where DeCA documents are stored. It also specifies how the information contained in the document may be amended while the transport service is being carried out, how different services may be grouped together, and what documentation or information the driver must provide.
What is the DeCA?
The DeCA is the digital version of the mandatory administrative control document required for domestic transport and cabotage operations. It contains the main details of the transport service, including the identity of the shipper and carrier, the origin and destination, the type of goods, the vehicle registration number and the date. The document must always be available for consultation by the competent authorities. The main difference compared with the previous system is that the paper document is eliminated and the information is provided digitally via a QR code, identification code or electronic access.
How is the DeCA generated?
The Electronic Administrative Control Document must be generated by each transport company using appropriate software that manages all the mandatory information. Companies may use their own system or contract a specialised service provider. For each transport operation, a PDF file is generated and must remain available in a repository for download via a unique URL in case it is required during an official inspection.
What information must the DeCA contain?
According to Order FOM/2861/20212 of 13 December, the DeCA must contain at least the following information:
- Name or company name, tax identification number (NIF) and address of the contractual shipper.
- Name or company name and NIF of the actual carrier.
- Place of origin and destination of the shipment.
- Nature and weight of the goods being transported.
- Identification of any special traffic permit issued by the competent authority for traffic, road circulation and road safety, where applicable.
- Date on which the transport operation takes place.
- Vehicle registration number.
Who is responsible for generating the DeCA?
The introduction of the mandatory Electronic Administrative Control Document does not change the general responsibilities of the parties involved. The responsibilities of the shipper and the carrier therefore remain the same. Although the legislation does not specifically establish which party must generate the document, both the shipper and the carrier are responsible for ensuring that it is available on board the vehicle. Each transport service must have its own DeCA. However, the law allows several services to be grouped into a single DeCA when the contractual shipper and the actual carrier are the same for all shipments, or when the origin, destination, nature and weight of the transported goods are clearly identified.
At Startrans, we manage your road freight shipments and take care of all the necessary procedures, including the DeCA. Contact us and tell us about your transport requirements.