Definitive terminology guide
DeCA, eCMR, waybill and delivery note: clear differences
Terminology confusion leads to fines and duplicated work. This table explains what each document is, when it applies and how to unify them in Kargo.
Transport document comparison table
| Term | Nature | Scope | Mandatory | 2026 format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport delivery note | Operational / colloquial | Spain | Yes (as control doc.) | Digital (DeCA) |
| Control document (DCA) | Administrative | Spain domestic | Yes | Digital from Oct. 2026 |
| DeCA | Electronic administrative | Spain domestic | Yes | Native PDF + QR |
| Waybill | Contractual | Domestic | If used as control | Digital if it is your control doc. |
| CMR / eCMR | International contractual | CMR Convention | International | Digital eCMR |
Practical rule for your team
If you transport in Spain: you need a digital control document (DeCA) with FOM/2861/2012 data. You can call it a delivery note internally. If you cross a border: add eCMR. Kargo generates the right document for each route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a single document for everything?
In many cases yes: a complete waybill or eCMR can serve as the control document if it includes all fields and DeCA technical requirements.
Go deeper
Stop fighting over terminology
Kargo translates your operations (delivery note) into legal compliance (DeCA / eCMR) automatically.