Difference between consignment note, CMR and control document
14 May 2026
The acceleration of document digitalization of road freight transport in Spain and Europe makes it necessary to analyze the difference between consignment note, CMR and control document, as many doubts arise as to their usefulness, regulations, format and mandatory nature.
In this post we analyze each of them and clarify the main regulatory implications, in the short and long term.
The national consignment note is the document that proves the existence of a contract of carriage of goods in Spain. That is to say, it has a declarative character.
The consignment note in Spain is regulated by Order FOM/1882/2012, of August 1, 2012, approving the general contracting conditions for the transport of goods by road.
This document is not mandatory, unless the contract of carriage exceeds 150 euros, as stated in Royal Decree-Law 14/2022.
In addition, either party to the contract may require the other party to issue a consignment note, of which three original copies must be issued and signed by the shipper and the actual carrier.
As a general rule, the consignment note shall include the following statements:
a). Place and date of issuance.
b). Name and address of the shipper and, if applicable, of the consignor.
c). Name and address of the carrier and, if applicable, of the third party receiving the shipment for transport.
d). Place and date of receipt of the shipment by the carrier.
e). Place and, if applicable, expected date of delivery of the shipment at destination.
f). Name and address of the addressee, as well as, eventually, an address where the addressee may receive notifications.
g). Nature of the goods making up the shipment, as well as the number of packages and their identification signs and signals.
h). Identification of the dangerous nature of the goods shipped, as well as the designation provided for in the legislation on the transport of dangerous goods, when applicable.
i). Quantity of goods shipped, determined by weight or otherwise expressed.
j). Type of packaging used to package the shipment.
k). Agreed price of transportation, as well as the amount of foreseeable expenses related to transportation.
l). Indication of whether the price of the transport is paid by the shipper or by the consignee.
m). If applicable, declaration of value of the goods or special interest in the delivery.
n). Instructions for the fulfillment of formalities and mandatory administrative procedures in relation to the goods included in the shipment.
The consignment note regulations themselves make it possible to issue an electronic version of this document if the parties agree.
However, it is likely that the approval of a new Royal Decree will force the use of the electronic version of the digital consignment note, completely eliminating paper.
– It must contain the same data as the paper version.
– The data entered must be accessible to any person authorized to do so.
– Data storage and document delivery must be guaranteed.
– It must be signed by shipper and carrier with their advanced electronic signatures, which must meet the following requirements (as stated in the eIDAS):
The main difference between the consignment note and the CMR is that, while the former is limited to the domestic sphere, the latter is limited to the international sphere.
Moreover, in the case of the CMR, it is a mandatory document in the international carriage of goods and, in fact, it is the document that formalizes the contract of carriage.
This document is regulated by the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR).
The international consignment note shall be issued in three originals, signed by the sender and the carrier.
As we have already mentioned, the CMR or international consignment note is mandatory when the origin or destination is in a country adhered to the CMR Convention.
Spain joined the CMR Convention in 1974 with the approval of the Instrument of Accession.
Article 6 of the CMR Convention establishes the following data as mandatory:
a). Place and date of drafting.
b). Name and address of sender.
c). Name and address of the carrier.
d). Place and date on which the goods are taken over.
e). Name and address of the addressee and place of delivery.
f). Description of the nature of the goods and the method of packaging, as well as the normal description of the goods if they are dangerous.
g). Number of packages, their particular marks and numbers.
h). Quantity of goods, expressed in gross weight or otherwise.
i). Transport costs (transport price, ancillary costs, customs duties and other costs arising from the conclusion of the contract to the time of delivery)
j). Instructions required by customs and other formalities.
k). Indication that the transport is subject to the regime established by the Convention.
a). Express mention of prohibition of transshipment if applicable.
b). Expenses borne by the sender.
c). Amount of the reimbursement to be received at the time of delivery of the goods.
d). Declared value of the goods and the amount representing the special interest in the delivery.
e). Instructions from the shipper to the carrier concerning the insurance of the goods.
f). Agreed time within which the transport is to be carried out.
g). List of documents delivered to the carrier.
Since 2008 it has been possible to use the electronic format of the CMR, known as eCMR, following the approval of the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, relating to the electronic consignment note.
The conditions for its digitization are:
The eFTI Regulation could mandate the use of the eCMR by 2029, completely eliminating the paper version of this document.
The control document is the only document required in the public transport of goods by road in Spain. It is administrative in nature and must be carried on board the vehicle accompanying the goods.
The control document is regulated by Order FOM/2861/2012, which determines that there will be as many control documents as shipments are made within a continuous transport contract.
Likewise, the actual carrier and the contractual shipper are the parties obliged to formalize the document, making it obligatory to issue two copies.
As mentioned above, the control document is mandatory.
a). Name or company name, VAT number and address of the contractual shipper.
b) Name or corporate name and NIF of the effective carrier.
c) Place of origin and destination of the shipment being transported.
d). Nature and weight of the goods transported.
e). Date of transport of the consignment in question.
f). Registration number of the vehicles used in the transportation.
g). Whenever so requested by the parties involved, any observations, reservations or any other indication that they consider useful shall be recorded.
The Sustainable Mobility Law establishes the mandatory use of the electronic version of the control document in October 2026, which is also known as DeCA (Electronic Administrative Control Document).
But the requirements for the correct digitalization of the control document are included in the modification of the ROTT in June 2026.
Read the post Transport DeCA: what is the digital control document and how to comply with the obligation by October 2026 to find out more about these requirements.
The most important thing to keep in mind in the use of the digital control document is that a QR code must be presented to the authorities at the in-transit verification, in order for the agents to access the document hosted in an https domain.
As the regulations do not define the format that the control document must acquire, it is possible to use the consignment note as a control document, as long as it includes the mandatory data established in Order FOM/2861/2012.
In the case of doing so, it must be taken into account that as of October 2026 it is mandatory to use the digital control document, therefore, those companies that use the consignment note as a control document, must digitize the consignment note.
FIELDEAS Track and Trace, supply chain visibility platform, has its own document digitalization module, the Smart Docs Hub.
Smart Docs Hub focuses on the complete digitization and management of any document used in a transport expedition.
This solution is based on two basic pillars: legal and regulatory guarantees and flexibility.
Read the post Smart Docs Hub: comprehensive digitization of control document, national waybill, eCMR and other transport documents to learn more about this solution.
Marketing Manager at FIELDEAS
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