# Accompanying document

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Freight forwarders, carriers, and customs authorities rely on accompanying documents to identify, control, and track a shipment throughout its journey.

Freight forwarders, carriers, and customs authorities rely on accompanying documents to identify, control, and track a shipment throughout its journey. The document travels physically with the goods and records their nature, quantity, and packaging alongside consignor and consignee details, routing, and mode of transport. The precise format depends on the transport mode and whether a border crossing is involved: road shipments typically carry a CMR waybill or delivery note, while cross-border movements may require a customs declaration or single administrative document (SAD). An accompanying document is not the same as the contract of carriage – it records the shipment but does not in itself confer title to the goods.

**Source:** [https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/Definition/begleitpapier.html](https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/Definition/begleitpapier.html)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Accompanying document |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 109 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://wirtschaftslexikon.gabler.de/Definition/begleitpapier.html |

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