Every international road shipment we run travels with a CMR consignment note. It is the standard transport document for cross-border road freight, named after the 1956 Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road.
When the CMR Convention applies
The Convention applies to paid carriage of goods by road when the place of pickup and the place of delivery are in two different countries, and at least one of them is a contracting state. Most European countries are contracting states, as are Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye and Kazakhstan.
What the note contains
A CMR note records the basic facts of the shipment, including:
- Sender, carrier and consignee
- Place and date of pickup, and place of delivery
- Description of the goods, number of packages and gross weight
- Instructions for customs and other formalities
Who keeps which copy
The note is issued in at least three originals signed by the sender and the carrier. The sender keeps the first, the second travels with the goods to the consignee, and the carrier keeps the third. At delivery, the consignee signs the note, which then serves as proof of delivery.
Why it matters for liability
Under the Convention, compensation for lost or damaged goods is capped at 8.33 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram of gross weight missing or damaged. For high-value, lightweight cargo that cap can be far below the value of the goods. That is why we recommend separate cargo insurance for valuable shipments.
Remarks written on the CMR at pickup or delivery, such as damaged packaging, are important evidence. Check the cargo and the note before signing.