What is the LOTT?

This guide covers Spanish regulations.

The LOTT is the Ley de Ordenación de los Transportes Terrestres (Ley 16/1987), Spain's Land Transport Act: the framework law that governs road and rail transport in Spain — who may operate transport, with which licences and authorisations, under what conditions and under what inspection and penalty regime.

What the LOTT regulates

The LOTT (Ley 16/1987) sets the general framework for land transport in Spain: the division of powers, licences and authorisations, contracting conditions, inspection and penalties, and auxiliary and complementary activities (agencies, freight forwarders). It is implemented by a regulation, the ROTT.

Recent amendments

The LOTT has been amended several times. Two amendments matter today: Ley 13/2021 (late payment in road haulage) and the Sustainable Mobility Act, Ley 9/2025, which brings in the requirement for an electronic control document (the DeCA).

Do your operations meet what the regulations require? Giormo generates the transport documents the law asks for. See it in action.

For information only; this is not legal advice. For the binding text, see the official sources.