CMR
A CMR is the standard international consignment note for road freight, governed by the CMR Convention, that serves as the contract of carriage and proof that goods were received and delivered.
What is a CMR consignment note?
CMR is short for the French title of the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road ("Convention relative au contrat de transport international de marchandises par route"), signed in Geneva on 19 May 1956. It applies to every contract for the carriage of goods by road for reward when the place of taking over and the place of delivery are in two different countries, at least one of which is party to the Convention. That covers almost all of Europe and several countries beyond it.
The consignment note confirms the contract of carriage and the receipt of the goods. Under Article 5 it is made out in three originals signed by the sender and the carrier: the first goes to the sender, the second travels with the goods and the third is kept by the carrier. Article 6 lists what it must contain, including the place and date it was made out, the sender, carrier and consignee, the place and date of taking over and the place of delivery, a description of the goods and their packing, the number of packages, the gross weight, and a statement that the carriage is subject to the Convention.
The note also matters for liability. When the carrier takes over the goods it checks their apparent condition and the number of packages, and enters any objection as a reservation (Article 8). Without reservations, the goods are presumed to have been in good condition unless the contrary is proved (Article 9). If goods are lost or damaged, the carrier's liability is in principle limited to 8.33 units of account (SDR) per kilogram of gross weight short (Article 23).
Example: a carrier collects 18 pallets in Antwerp for delivery in Milan. The shipping clerk and the driver sign boxes 22 and 23 at loading, and the driver enters a reservation that two cartons are already crushed. In Milan the consignee signs box 24 on receipt. If the consignee later claims damage, the reservation shows the cartons were crushed before the carrier took over.
Transportial generates the CMR from the transport order: "Print CMR" on any trip or order fills sender, consignee, places, goods and weights onto the pre-printed form layout or into a self-contained consignment note (see documents). The free CMR generator covers a one-off note, and where it is switched on, the e-CMR replaces paper with a signed digital record.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CMR mandatory?
For international road carriage between countries that are party to the CMR Convention, a consignment note is the standard instrument governing the contract of carriage. While carriage remains valid even if the note is missing or incorrect (Article 4), in practice a CMR is used on virtually every international road shipment.
Can I generate a CMR online?
Yes. Transportial offers a free CMR generator, and the platform can auto-populate CMR documents directly from a transport order.
How many copies does a CMR consignment note have?
The Convention requires three originals signed by the sender and the carrier: one for the sender, one that travels with the goods, and one for the carrier. Pre-printed forms often include extra copies, for example for administration.
Who fills in the CMR?
Usually the sender, who is liable for the accuracy of the particulars it provides (Article 7), although the carrier or forwarder often prepares the note from the order data. The carrier adds its reservations at take-over and the consignee signs on delivery.
What is the carrier's liability limit under CMR?
In principle 8.33 units of account (special drawing rights, SDR) per kilogram of gross weight of the goods lost or damaged, plus a refund of carriage charges and customs duties. A higher value or a special interest in delivery can be declared in the consignment note against an agreed surcharge.
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