The daily routine of international road freight transport cannot be imagined without the current transport document – the CMR consignment note, which is also a contract for the carriage of goods. To ensure safe freight transport, the CMR consignment note confirms and approves commitments between the parties involved in transporting goods – mainly between the carrier, the sender, and the recipient.
What is CMR?
The international goods transport consignment note CMR is a document that confirms the rules for international road transport of goods, which the Convention regulates on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR). CMR serves both as a generally accepted transport contract and establishes the freight carriers’ responsibilities. With the CMR road transport contract, the carrier confirms their responsibility towards the sender, committing to transport the consigned goods from the place of collection to the specified delivery location, where the goods are handed over to the consignee.
The transport contract, or CMR consignment note, conforming to the Convention’s rules, is prepared in three copies and signed by both the sender and the carrier. The parties’ signatures may either be typographically printed or replaced with stamps if the law of the country where the consignment note is prepared allows it.
CMR convention
The CMR Convention was ratified and signed on 19 May 1956 in Geneva and regulates the contractual obligations of international road freight transport carried out for compensation between the sender of the goods, the carrier, and the recipient of the goods, where the stated places of dispatch and receipt of the goods are in two different countries, at least one of which is a Contracting State.
CMR form
The CMR form, or CMR consignment note, is often prepared in three or sometimes four copies and includes a copy for the parties involved: the sender of the goods, the recipient of the goods, and the carrier. A copy of the CMR is also given to them when a second carrier is involved.
Below is a sample transport document in various formats: CMR form excel, CMR form pdf, and CMR form word:
CMR form (Excel)
CMR form (PDF)
CMR form (Word)
CMR completion example
All points of the CMR form must be filled out without printing errors, paying attention to precise descriptions of the route, information about the sender, recipient, and carrier, and the specifics of the cargo and customs codes required for transporting goods to third countries.
The CMR completion procedure, in which information is included in the 26 points of the CMR form and covers the legal provisions of the international transport contract, is not random and is coordinated with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
How to fill out CMR?
The CMR consignment note may include any information that involved parties consider necessary. According to Article 6 of the Convention, when filling out CMR, the following is specified:
- The date, time, and place of preparation of the consignment note.
- The sender of the goods (name) and its address.
- The carrier of the goods (name) and its address.
- The recipient of the goods (name) and its address.
- The time and place of collection of the goods, transshipment, and unloading.
- The name of the type of goods/cargo.
- The number of packages or wrappings of goods/cargo.
- The gross weight of the cargo.
- As well as other information, notes, and instructions related to transporting goods or cargo.
Frequently asked questions about CMR
CMR can be issued by either the sender or the carrier, but the CMR consignment note is usually issued by the sender of the goods or the company dispatching the goods or cargo to the carrier. This ensures correct and unambiguous information about the carriage to be performed and the contents of the cargo, saving time for both parties during the cargo loading.
CMR (International Goods Transport Consignment Note) serves as proof and documented confirmation that the carrier is responsible for safely delivering the cargo to the intended delivery location and time. CMR is also a cargo consignment note or document required for all cargo during transport.
The CMR Convention member states include those countries that have signed or acceded to it and are members of the Economic Commission for Europe or have been admitted to this commission with advisory status.
Currently, the digital CMR version in Latvia is not politically supported and has not been implemented. In Latvia, conceptual documents are being prepared for introducing a digital electronic international freight transport contract (e-CMR consignment note). The digital CMR consignment note version has been described in the CMR Convention Protocol, which was adopted in February 2008.
The CMR consignment note must be filled out carefully and accurately, avoiding any inaccuracies or errors; otherwise, it can cause direct financial losses to the sender. In cases where the CMR is filled out without due precision, the cargo can be incorrectly delivered, or the transport can even be stopped at border controls.
Throughout the cargo transport process, the CMR consignment note or CMR form is an essential accompanying document for the transportation of goods or cargoes, which simultaneously confirms the contractual obligations of cargo transport and serves as formal evidence for secure cargo transportation.
