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Goods Transport Contract Colombia (Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias)

Goods Transport Contract Colombia (Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias)

CONTRATO DE TRANSPORTE DE MERCANCIAS

(Goods Transport Contract)

CCo Art. 981 — Decreto 173/2001 — Decreto 1079/2015

En [Sign City], a los [Sign Date], entre:

GENERADOR DE CARGA:

[Generator Name], identificado(a) con NIT/C.C. [Generator NIT], representado(a) por [Generator Rep Name], con domicilio en [Generator Address].

EMPRESA DE TRANSPORTE:

[Transport Name], identificado(a) con NIT/C.C. [Transport NIT], representado(a) por [Transport Rep Name], con domicilio en [Transport Address], habilitada mediante [Habilitacion No].

Quienes en adelante se denominaran "LAS PARTES", celebran el presente Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias conforme a las siguientes clausulas:

PRIMERA. — OBJETO

La EMPRESA DE TRANSPORTE se obliga a transportar por via terrestre las mercancias del GENERADOR DE CARGA, conforme al Articulo 981 del Codigo de Comercio y el Decreto 173 de 2001:

Descripcion de mercancias: [Goods Description].

Categoria: [Goods Category].

Volumen mensual estimado: [Estimated Volume].

Valor declarado por despacho: [Goods Declared Value].

SEGUNDA. — RUTAS Y PLAZOS DE ENTREGA

Origen principal: [Primary Origin].

Destino principal: [Primary Destination].

Rutas adicionales: [Additional Routes].

Plazo de entrega: [Delivery Window], contado a partir de la emision del manifiesto de carga en el RNDC conforme al Decreto 1079 de 2015.

TERCERA. — OBLIGACIONES DE LA EMPRESA DE TRANSPORTE

La EMPRESA DE TRANSPORTE se obliga a: (a) emitir el manifiesto de carga a traves del RNDC para cada despacho conforme al Decreto 1079 de 2015; (b) expedir la carta de porte conforme al Articulo 1018 del Codigo de Comercio; (c) transportar las mercancias en vehiculos en condiciones mecanicas adecuadas con conductores licenciados; (d) entregar las mercancias en destino en las mismas condiciones en que fueron recibidas (CCo Art. 992); (e) mantener vigentes las polizas de responsabilidad civil contractual y extracontractual; (f) cumplir con las normas sanitarias y de seguridad aplicables a la categoria de mercancia transportada; y (g) notificar inmediatamente al GENERADOR DE CARGA cualquier novedad que afecte la mercancia o el plazo de entrega.

CUARTA. — OBLIGACIONES DEL GENERADOR DE CARGA

El GENERADOR DE CARGA se obliga a: (a) entregar las mercancias debidamente empacadas, embaladas y rotuladas para transporte; (b) declarar verazmente la naturaleza, cantidad, peso, valor y condiciones especiales de las mercancias conforme al Articulo 1010 del Codigo de Comercio; (c) programar los despachos con antelacion minima de 24 horas; (d) facilitar las operaciones de cargue en sus instalaciones; (e) pagar el flete conforme a las condiciones comerciales pactadas; y (f) proporcionar la documentacion requerida para el transporte legal de las mercancias.

QUINTA. — TARIFAS Y FORMA DE PAGO

Las tarifas de flete seran las siguientes: [Rate Structure]. Las tarifas podran ser ajustadas trimestralmente de mutuo acuerdo, considerando las variaciones en los indices de costos del SICE-TAC del Ministerio de Transporte.

Condiciones de pago: [Payment Terms]. El incumplimiento en el pago generara intereses moratorios a la tasa maxima legal autorizada por la Superintendencia Financiera.

SEXTA. — RESPONSABILIDAD Y SEGUROS

La EMPRESA DE TRANSPORTE asume responsabilidad objetiva por la perdida, averia o retardo de las mercancias desde su recepcion hasta la entrega en destino, conforme al Articulo 992 del Codigo de Comercio. La responsabilidad se limita al valor declarado de [Goods Declared Value] por despacho conforme al Articulo 1031 del Codigo de Comercio.

Cobertura de seguros vigente: [Insurance Coverage], conforme al Decreto 1079 de 2015.

SEPTIMA. — PROCEDIMIENTO DE RECLAMACIONES

Las reclamaciones por perdida, averia o retardo deberan presentarse por escrito dentro de los cinco (5) dias habiles siguientes a la entrega o a la fecha en que la entrega debio realizarse. La EMPRESA DE TRANSPORTE dispondra de quince (15) dias habiles para investigar y responder la reclamacion. Las acciones judiciales derivadas del contrato de transporte prescriben en dos (2) anos conforme al Articulo 993 del Codigo de Comercio.

OCTAVA. — VIGENCIA Y TERMINACION

El presente contrato tendra una vigencia de [Contract Term]. Cualquiera de las partes podra dar por terminado el contrato mediante aviso escrito con treinta (30) dias de anticipacion, sin perjuicio de las obligaciones pendientes y los despachos programados.

NOVENA. — LEY APLICABLE Y JURISDICCION

El presente contrato se rige por las leyes de la Republica de Colombia: Codigo de Comercio (Decreto 410 de 1971), Decreto 173 de 2001, Decreto 1079 de 2015, y Ley 336 de 1996. Las controversias seran resueltas por los Juzgados Civiles del Circuito de [Sign City].

FIRMAS

GENERADOR DE CARGA:

[Generator Name]

NIT/C.C.: [Generator NIT]

Representante Legal: [Generator Rep Name]

Firma: _________________________

EMPRESA DE TRANSPORTE:

[Transport Name]

NIT/C.C.: [Transport NIT]

Representante Legal: [Transport Rep Name]

Firma: _________________________

Cargo Generator (Generador de Carga)

________________

Signature

Transport Company (Empresa de Transporte)

________________

Signature

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What Is a Goods Transport Contract Colombia (Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias)?

A Goods Transport Contract Colombia (Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias) is a specialized commercial agreement under the Codigo de Comercio (CCo — Decreto 410 de 1971) Article 981 through which an empresa de transporte (transport company) undertakes to carry merchandise belonging to a generador de carga (cargo generator) from a specified origin to a designated destination within Colombian territory, in exchange for a freight charge (flete), with specific regulatory compliance obligations established by Decreto 173 de 2001 and consolidated in the Decreto 1079 de 2015.

The Decreto 173 de 2001 specifically regulates the servicio publico de transporte terrestre automotor de carga (public service of land cargo transport by motor vehicle) in Colombia. Article 6 defines the generador de carga as any natural or legal person that produces, collects, distributes, or commercializes goods requiring transport services. Article 7 defines the empresa de transporte as the entity authorized by the Ministerio de Transporte through a habilitacion to provide public cargo transport services. The Decreto establishes the trilateral relationship between the generador de carga, the empresa de transporte, and the propietario del vehiculo (vehicle owner), each with distinct rights and obligations.

Under the Decreto 1079 de 2015 (Decreto Unico Reglamentario del Sector Transporte), Part 2, Title 2, Chapter 7, every cargo transport operation must be documented through a manifiesto de carga (cargo manifest) issued through the Registro Nacional de Despacho de Carga (RNDC) — the electronic platform administered by the Ministerio de Transporte under Resolucion 377 de 2013. The manifiesto de carga must contain: identification of the empresa de transporte, the vehicle and driver, the remitente (shipper), the destinatario (consignee), description and weight of the cargo, origin and destination, freight value, and insurance information.

The Corte Constitucional in Sentencia C-033 de 2014 upheld the constitutionality of the regulatory framework for cargo transport, confirming that the State's intervention in transport services under Constitucion Article 334 is justified by the public interest character of the service declared by Ley 336 de 1996 Article 2. The Superintendencia de Transporte exercises inspection, surveillance, and control functions over cargo transport operations under Decreto 2741 de 2001, with authority to impose sanctions including fines up to 2,000 SMLMV and suspension or revocation of the habilitacion.

The liability regime for goods transport combines the strict liability provisions of CCo Articles 992 and 1003 with the insurance requirements of Decreto 1079 de 2015 Articulos 2.2.1.7.8.1 through 2.2.1.7.8.6. The empresa de transporte must maintain polizas de responsabilidad civil contractual covering cargo damage and poliza de responsabilidad civil extracontractual covering third-party damages. The Ley 1480 de 2011 (Estatuto del Consumidor) applies when the generador de carga qualifies as a consumer, adding additional consumer protection obligations including the prohibition of abusive clauses under Article 42.

The Resolucion 1552 de 2014 of the Ministerio de Transporte regulates the relaciones economicas (economic relations) between generadores de carga, empresas de transporte, and propietarios de vehiculos, establishing transparency requirements for freight rate determination and payment obligations. Under this resolution, the empresa de transporte must pay the vehicle owner within the timeframe stipulated in the contract, and delays exceeding thirty days constitute an administrative infraction sanctionable by the Superintendencia de Transporte.

When Do You Need a Goods Transport Contract Colombia (Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias)?

A Goods Transport Contract Colombia is needed whenever a generador de carga (cargo generator) — whether manufacturer, agricultural producer, distributor, importer, or retailer — engages an empresa de transporte to move merchandise by road within Colombian territory under the regulatory framework of Decreto 173 de 2001 and Decreto 1079 de 2015.

Manufacturing companies throughout Colombia's industrial corridors — Bogota-Soacha, Medellin-Valle de Aburra, Cali-Yumbo, Barranquilla-Soledad — need this contract to formalize the regular movement of raw materials from suppliers and finished products to distribution channels. Under Decreto 173 Article 6, every generador de carga utilizing public cargo transport services enters into a contractual relationship governed by the CCo and the specific transport regulations.

Agricultural exporters and food processing companies in regions like the Eje Cafetero (Caldas, Quindio, Risaralda), the Llanos Orientales (Meta, Casanare), and the Costa Atlantica need goods transport contracts for the movement of perishable agricultural products requiring compliance with Resolucion 2505 de 2004 (transporte de alimentos) and INVIMA sanitary standards. Coffee exporters moving product from fincas to port cities (Buenaventura, Cartagena, Santa Marta) require documented transport agreements with temperature and handling specifications.

Import-export businesses operating through Colombian ports and border crossings need this contract for the inland movement of containerized cargo between ports (Sociedad Portuaria de Buenaventura, Sociedad Portuaria de Cartagena, Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta) and inland distribution centers. Under Decreto 1079 Part 2, Title 2, Chapter 7, Section 3, the intermodal transfer of cargo between port facilities and land transport requires specific documentation including the manifiesto de carga.

Construction and mining companies operating under Ley 1382 de 2010 and the Codigo de Minas (Ley 685 de 2001) require goods transport contracts for the movement of construction materials, aggregates, minerals, and heavy equipment. The transport of mining products is subject to additional regulatory requirements including origin certificates (certificados de origen minero) and compliance with environmental transport regulations under Decreto 1076 de 2015.

Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies distributing medications and medical devices throughout Colombia need transport contracts complying with INVIMA Resolucion 1403 de 2007 (Buenas Practicas de Distribucion) and Decreto 677 de 1995, which require temperature-controlled transport, traceability documentation, and chain of custody protocols for pharmaceutical products.

What to Include in Your Goods Transport Contract Colombia (Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias)

A valid Goods Transport Contract Colombia under CCo Article 981, Decreto 173 de 2001, and Decreto 1079 de 2015 must contain specific elements to comply with both commercial law and transport regulatory requirements.

Party Identification and Regulatory Status: Full identification of the generador de carga (cargo generator) — razon social, NIT, Camara de Comercio registration, representante legal — and the empresa de transporte (transport company) — razon social, NIT, Camara de Comercio registration, representante legal, and critically, the numero de habilitacion (operating license number) issued by the Ministerio de Transporte under Ley 336 Article 11 and Decreto 173 Article 7. The empresa de transporte must demonstrate current registration in the Registro Nacional de Transporte. Contracts with empresas de transporte lacking valid habilitacion are void for regulatory purposes.

Cargo Specifications: Detailed description of the merchandise — type, nature, quantity, weight, volume, packaging, declared value for liability purposes under CCo Article 1031, and any special characteristics requiring specific handling. Under CCo Article 1010, the generador de carga bears responsibility for accurate declaration of cargo characteristics; material misrepresentation — particularly failure to disclose hazardous materials regulated under Decreto 1609 de 2002 — may relieve the carrier of liability and expose the shipper to criminal sanctions under Ley 1333 de 2009 (regimen sancionatorio ambiental).

Transport Logistics: Origin point (punto de cargue), destination point (punto de descargue), delivery schedule, loading and unloading responsibilities, and any intermediate stops or consolidation points. Under Decreto 1079 Section 2.2.1.7.4, each shipment requires a manifiesto de carga issued through the RNDC (Registro Nacional de Despacho de Carga) specifying the exact route, vehicle, and driver for that particular movement.

Freight Structure and Payment: The flete (freight charge) calculation methodology — per ton, per vehicle, per trip, or fixed periodic rate — payment terms and schedule, and financial consequences of late payment. Under Resolucion 1552 de 2014, the relationship between the freight paid by the generador de carga and the amount received by the propietario del vehiculo must comply with transparency requirements. The contract should specify whether the flete includes ancillary costs: tolls (peajes), fuel surcharges, loading/unloading labor (cargue y descargue), overnight parking (pernocta), and insurance premiums.

Insurance and Risk Allocation: Identification of mandatory insurance policies — the empresa de transporte must maintain poliza de responsabilidad civil contractual (cargo damage) and poliza de responsabilidad civil extracontractual (third-party liability) under Decreto 1079 Articles 2.2.1.7.8.1 through 2.2.1.7.8.6. The contract should clarify whether the generador de carga maintains additional cargo insurance (seguro de transporte de mercancias) and how claims are coordinated between the carrier's liability insurance and the shipper's cargo insurance.

Liability Framework: Clear statement of the carrier's strict liability under CCo Article 992 for cargo loss, damage, or delay, the exoneration causes under CCo Article 1003 (force majeure, inherent vice, shipper fault), and the liability limit tied to declared cargo value under CCo Article 1031. The contract should address subcontracting — under CCo Article 997, when successive carriers participate, the contracting carrier bears joint and several liability toward the generador de carga.

Reclamation Procedures: Procedures for filing claims — the destinatario must inspect the goods upon delivery and note any apparent damage on the delivery receipt; failure to protest visible damage within the timeframe established by CCo Article 1028 may affect the right to claim. The contract should establish internal claims procedures, documentation requirements, and timeframes for investigation and resolution, noting the two-year prescripcion under CCo Article 993.

Dispute Resolution: Governing law (CCo, Decreto 173/2001, Decreto 1079/2015, Ley 336/1996) and forum selection — Juzgados Civiles del Circuito, Superintendencia de Transporte administrative proceedings, or commercial arbitration under Ley 1563 de 2012.

Forms-legal.com provides this Goods Transport Contract Colombia template as a thorough framework for formalizing cargo transport relationships under Colombian commercial and transport law. Each contract should be reviewed by an abogado especialista en derecho del transporte to confirm compliance with current Ministerio de Transporte resolutions and sector-specific requirements.

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@misc{formslegal-goods-transport-contract-colombia,
  author       = {{Forms Legal}},
  title        = {Goods Transport Contract Colombia (Contrato de Transporte de Mercancias) (Colombia)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/colombia/business/contracts/goods-transport-contract-colombia}},
  note         = {Free legal document template}
}

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