A transport belt, in particular for machines for the production of web material such as paper or paperboard, which on a web material contact side (18) includes at least two material layers (20, 22, 24) of different material arranged one above the other, wherein prior to starting up for the first time the transport belt (10) is subjected on its web material contact side (18), at least in some regions, to a material-removing process such that the transport belt (10) has on its web material contact side (18) a web material contact surface (26) provided by various material layers (20, 22, 24).