From 1 September 2026, the electronic consignment note (ETrN) is mandatory for all participants in road transport within Russia: consignors, carriers, freight forwarders and consignees. The legal basis is the Act of 7 June 2025 No. 140-FZ. Paper shipping documents are prohibited except in cases separately specified by the Ministry of Transport.
The obligation also covers rail consignment notes, air waybills and freight-forwarding documents – forwarding orders, forwarding receipts and warehouse receipts.
An important detail for deliveries from Belarus: international Belarus–Russia transport continues to be documented with a paper CMR (international consignment note). However, if the cargo continues after unloading within Russia between Russian companies, that leg must already be electronic. Belarusian freight forwarders have been required to register since 1 May 2026, while Belarusian carriers will be required to do so from 1 March 2027.
Trusted third parties provide verification: the National Electronic Services Centre on the Belarusian side and Gazinformservis on the Russian side. In summer 2026, the parties began testing the electronic international e-CMR consignment note.
Sources: pravovest-audit.ru, 17 July 2026; klerk.ru, 29 May 2026; ctt.by, 15 June 2026; edn.by, August 2026