Cabotage in Spain: the DeCA travels on board too.
Cabotage is domestic transport carried out by a haulier from another country. That's why cabotage in Spain carries the same control document as any other domestic journey: the DeCA, electronic since 05/10/2026.
What cabotage means
Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 defines cabotage operations in its article 2.6 as domestic transport for hire or reward carried out on a temporary basis in a host Member State. It's the lorry of a French, Portuguese or German company that, after delivering the load of an international journey, loads and unloads within Spain, within the limits set by article 8 of the same Regulation.
Its article 9 adds that cabotage is governed by the host country's rules on matters such as the conditions of the transport contract, vehicle weights and dimensions, or driving and rest times. And Spain's Ministry of Transport, in its DeCA FAQ (consulted on 15/10/2026), includes cabotage in its scope: inland transport, both domestic and cabotage.
Which document each leg needs
| Leg | Document |
|---|---|
| International journey into Spain | CMR consignment note, on paper or electronic (the e-CMR is not mandatory) |
| Cabotage: loading and unloading within Spain | Electronic control document (DeCA), with its QR code, since 05/10/2026 |
| Domestic transport by a Spanish company | Electronic control document (DeCA) |
Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 (OJ L 300 of 14/11/2009), articles 2.6, 8 and 9, consulted on 31/10/2026; DeCA FAQ of Spain's Ministry of Transport, consulted on 15/10/2026.
How the DeCA for a cabotage operation is made
- Whoever hires provides the consignment dataThe company that hires the journey in Spain is the contracting shipper and is liable for its data: its own details, the carrier's, origin and destination, goods and weight. Who generates the document can be agreed between the parties.
- It reaches the driverBefore setting off, by WhatsApp or on paper: the PDF with its QR code. The QR code is what matters.
- At the checkThe driver shows the PDF or just the QR code and the inspector downloads it with their device. If something changes en route, a new version is generated and the previous one is kept.
If you're a haulier from another country
On a cabotage operation you're the actual carrier: you're liable for the date, the registration and, if there is one, the special traffic permit. The consignment data is provided by, and is the responsibility of, whoever hires you. No signature or registration with the Ministry is needed: you just carry the PDF or its QR code before the service starts.
If whoever hires you in Spain has no way to generate it, DeCA does it from the website, from their software or via API, for a flat rate of €25 a month per company. And if you pass journeys on to other carriers within Spain, see DeCA for subcontracting.
FAQ
Does it apply to international transport?
No. The DeCA is for domestic transport and cabotage. International transport still uses the CMR consignment note. The electronic CMR is not mandatory.
Is an e-signature or digital certificate required?
No. Neither the Order nor the Resolution requires a signature for the document to be valid. Only if you also use it as a contract, for example as a signed consignment note, would it need an advanced electronic signature.
Does it have to be uploaded to a Ministry platform?
No. There is no official app and nothing has to be registered. Each company keeps its documents in its own repository, and at checks they are downloaded from the URL in the QR code.
What if there's no signal at the check?
The driver doesn't need a connection: they carry the PDF downloaded or printed. The one who downloads it is the inspector, with their own device. If they can't do it at that moment, the Resolution requires the URL to remain available for at least seven days after the service.
More about the DeCA
- What the control document isWhat changes from 5 October 2026 and what it must contain
- Control document for vansWhen vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes need it
- Control document or CMRWhich one for domestic transport and which for international
- No signal at a roadside checkWhat happens if there's no connection when you're stopped
- Own-account transportWhen your own fleet doesn't need a DeCA
- DeCA example in PDFA sample control document, field by field
- ShippersWhoever hires the transport and is liable for the DeCA
- Integration with your softwareArigest, Agrocom, GAP, Gesthorm and API
- PricePay per document or flat rate
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