Documento de Control Administrativo (DCA) in Spain

The regulation does not designate a single mandatory issuer. The Documento de Control Administrativo may be issued by:

• The contractual shipper
• The logistics provider
• The operating carrier

The DCA must be made available in compliance with legal requirements so that it is accessible digitally throughout the entire transport process, regardless of which party generates it.

Shared responsibility

Responsibility is shared between the parties involved:

• Each party is responsible for the accuracy of the information it provides

• The contractual shipper and the operative carrier may both be held liable if:
  • The document does not exist
  • The document is not created in time
  • The document contains incomplete or incorrect mandatory information

The DCA QR code will be included in a separate document that Rhenus will provide to the customer as part of the digital transport documentation.

The Documento de Control Administrativo must contain key transport information, including:

• Contractual shipper identification
• Operating carrier identification
• Origin and destination of the transport
• Description of the goods
• Loading and unloading dates

The digital format also allows:

• Recording operational incidents
• Adding transport-related observations
• Maintaining a complete transport history

The driver no longer needs to carry a paper document. During an inspection, authorities will verify the Documento de Control Administrativo electronically using a QR code if you have your own digital repository. If you do not have a repository, you may upload the DCA to the ministry, which will provide a numeric reference. This numeric reference is linked to the uploaded DCA and can be used by road authorities during inspections. 

The key requirement is that the document is authentic, accessible and verifiable at any time during the transport.

The DCA becomes mandatory starting on 5 October 2026.

The obligation applies to most public road freight transport operations in Spain, with limited exceptions.

The shipper, logistics provider or carrier may generate it, but it must exist when the transport starts.

Electronic signatures are not mandatory for the DCA.

Failure to generate the DCA in time may result in penalties and shared liability.

Rhenus is developing solutions to support customers and clarify responsibilities within each transport setup.

No. The CMR/eCMR is mainly a contractual and liability document for international road transport. For international transport operations, the eCMR may replace the DCA if the requirements of the Resolución de 22 de mayo de 2023 are met.

Name or company name and tax identification number of the actual carrier

1. Place of origin and destination of the shipment being transported
2. Nature and weight of the goods transported. In cases where, due to the circumstances in which the vehicle is loaded, it is difficult to determine the exact weight of the goods to be transported, another type of measurement shall be used to determine their weight.
3. Identification of the special traffic permit issued by the competent authority in matters of traffic, circulation and road safety when the vehicle travels under the cover of one of these permits.
4. Date of transport of the shipment in question.
5. Registration number of the vehicle used to carry out the transport. In the case of an articulated vehicle, both the registration number of the tractor vehicle and that of the semi-trailer or trailer towed by it must be recorded. If a change of vehicles occurs after the transport operation has begun, this circumstance must be recorded in the control documentation by the transport company.
6. Whenever requested by the parties involved, any observations, reservations or other information they deem useful shall be recorded.

Certain transport operations are exempt from the DCA requirement under Spanish regulations. These exemptions include:

• Household removals
• Transport of damaged or disabled vehicles
• Parcel and courier services involving a small number of packages that can be handled by one person
• Transport operations that do not require transport authorization under Spanish transport law

In addition, if the transport is already documented through a consignment note or other legally accepted transport documentation containing all mandatory DCA information, this documentation may fulfill the DCA requirement.

The DCA follows a shared responsibility model: The shipper is responsible for providing accurate transport data, while the carrier is responsible for ensuring that the DCA is digitally available during transport and can be presented during inspections.

Customers are required to provide accurate shipment information in advance, including:

• Shipper details (legal name, address and tax ID)
• Origin and destination
• Description and weight of the goods
• Transport date

Customers are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of this information, as it forms the legal basis of the DCA and may be used to clarify discrepancies, such as differences in quantity or goods descriptions, if needed.

No system changes are required for customers to comply with these regulations. Customers working with Rhenus do not need to implement additional technical adaptations. Customers should ensure that the required data is shared with Rhenus and become familiar with the process for digitally signing the required documents.

Both parties are responsible for providing the necessary information. The regulation does not explicitly define which party must issue the DCA, but both parties share responsibility for ensuring compliance.

The customer provides the necessary information to Rhenus. As the transport company, Rhenus is responsible for managing the shipment, while both Rhenus and the customer share responsibility for ensuring that a valid digital DCA is available.