Most delays at borders come from missing or inconsistent paperwork. Preparing documents before the truck arrives is the easiest way to keep a shipment on schedule. Exact requirements depend on the goods, so treat this as a starting checklist and confirm details with us and your customs broker.
Commercial documents
These usually come from the seller:
- Commercial invoice with the value, currency and terms of sale
- Packing list with the number of packages, weights and dimensions
- Certificate of origin, when needed for the goods or for preferential duty
- Certificates, permits or licences required for specific goods
Transport and customs documents
The CMR consignment note travels with the goods for the whole journey. Goods leaving the EU are declared for export, and the export record must be closed when they leave EU territory. For transit through third countries, goods often move under a customs transit procedure such as a TIR carnet, which lets a sealed truck cross several borders with fewer inspections.
Keep the details consistent
Descriptions, weights and package counts should match across the invoice, packing list and CMR. Small differences are a common reason for extra checks at the border.
Send us copies of the documents before loading. We review them and tell you if anything is missing while there is still time to fix it.