Russia | Mandatory transition to electronic waybills in 2026: how to prepare your business logistics to avoid fines and disruptions

Effective September 1, 2026, the use of electronic waybills (ETrN) will become mandatory for all participants in commercial freight transportation within the Russian Federation. Paper-based document flow in logistics will be phased out, with the exception of rare cases to be separately approved by the Ministry of Transport.

For organizations involved in the distribution of alcoholic and alcohol-containing products, the changes will begin even earlier: starting March 1, 2026, paper waybills will be gradually replaced by electronic waybills and applications submitted to the Unified State Automated Information System (EGAIS), and starting in September, mandatory electronic transport waybills (ETrN) or electronic delivery notes (EPL) will be added to these requirements.

Who is required to switch to the ETrN, and by when?

1. All commercial freight transport — effective September 1, 2026

The new requirements apply to all participants in the supply chain: shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, and consignees, regardless of industry. The following are transitioning to a digital format by default:

• Electronic Waybills (EWB).
• Electronic Trip Sheets (ETS).
• Electronic Purchase Orders (EPO).
• Freight forwarding documents (receipts, instructions, warehouse receipts).

2. A special schedule for the alcohol market

Companies that deal in alcoholic and alcohol-containing products are the first to adopt the new format:

• Starting March 1, 2026, the traditional paper waybill will be replaced by electronic documents: for beer, cider, and labeled products, an electronic waybill must be issued through the “Honest Mark” system, and for spirits, an electronic application must be submitted to EGAIS.
• Starting September 1, 2026, the road transport of these goods must be accompanied by mandatory electronic waybills (ETrN) or electronic transport permits (EPL).
• However, a transition period has been established until March 1, 2027, during which the use of paper waybills is still permitted instead of their electronic counterparts.

Our support

We help you restructure your logistics operations without incurring fines or shipment delays:

• Connection to the EPD GIS through accredited operators.
  Data transmission to the State Information System for Electronic Transport Documents (GIS EPD) is possible only through operators certified by the Ministry of Transport. We handle the entire connection process, ensuring the legal validity of documents and the security of communication channels in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Tax Service and the Ministry of Transport.
• Setup and description of the process for working with ETrN for the client.
  Every supply chain has its own unique characteristics. We thoroughly analyze your current shipping procedures, outline the protocols for interaction between all parties (shipper—carrier—driver—consignee), and tailor the system to your business processes, including scenarios involving rerouting or driver changes en route.
• Integration of ETrN with 1C accounting systems.
  To minimize manual data entry and eliminate errors, we set up integration of electronic waybills with your 1C database. This allows accountants, logistics specialists, and warehouse clerks to create, send, and sign electronic waybills directly within their familiar work interface. The data is automatically reconciled with the source documents.
• Training employees on how to work under the new rules.
  The transition to EPD is changing the way our field staff work. We are conducting training for key employee groups: logistics staff, warehouse staff, and drivers.