A transmittal records what was sent, to whom and when. A submittal is information sent for approval. Here is how they differ and how they work together.
Updated 1 November 2026.
A transmittal is the cover record of documents passing from one party to another: what was sent, to whom, when and why. A submittal is the package a subcontractor sends back for approval, such as shop drawings, product data or samples. A submittal usually travels under a transmittal, so the two work together rather than compete.
A transmittal lists each document with its number, title and revision, the people it went to, the date and time it was sent, and the reason for issue, such as For Information or For Construction. A good one also says what the recipient needs to do next.
Its value is as a record. When a dispute turns on which drawing revision a subcontractor was working from, the transmittal is the document that answers it.
A submittal is information a contractor or subcontractor sends to the design team or head contractor for review before work goes ahead. Typical examples are shop drawings, product data sheets, material samples and test certificates. The reviewer marks the outcome, such as approved, approved as noted, or revise and resubmit.
Contracts use different names for this, including submittal, shop drawing submission and technical submission, so check which term yours uses and what review period it allows.
In Tracta, you send a transmittal from the register instead of attaching files to an email. Each transmittal records the exact revisions sent, and each recipient shows when it was sent, when they viewed it and when they acknowledged it.
Your contract may require formal transmittals whatever the medium. Even if it doesn't, an email attachment leaves no register, so a transmittal is the only record of what was issued and when.
A shop drawing is one kind of submittal. Submittals also include product data, samples and test certificates.
Whoever sends the documents. That is usually a project engineer, contract administrator or document controller.
Only if the system records it. A transmittal alone shows what was sent. Some systems also record when a recipient opened or acknowledged it, and Tracta records views by signed-in recipients and acknowledgements.
A transmittal register records which drawing revision each subcontractor received, when, and whether they acknowledged it. Here is how to set one up.
A drawing register lists every drawing with its current revision and status. Here is what to record, how to label revisions and how to keep it accurate.
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