Direct answer. The CMR consignment note is the document that evidences the international road transport contract for goods, in accordance with the CMR convention signed in Geneva in 1956. Drawn up between the sender, the carrier and the consignee, it serves as proof that the goods were taken in charge, of their apparent condition, and of the agreed transport terms.
An evidentiary document, not a simple delivery slip
The acronym CMR refers to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, an international text that governs a road carrier's liability whenever a shipment crosses a border between two signatory states. The consignment note drawn up under this framework serves three main functions: it records the conclusion of the transport contract between the parties, it certifies that the carrier did indeed take charge of the goods as described (nature, weight, number of packages) and, absent reasoned reservations noted at the time of collection, it creates a presumption that the goods and their packaging were in apparent good condition.
The document is generally drawn up in several copies, one for the sender, one for the carrier, one for the consignee, and includes standardized details: identity and contact information for the sender, carrier and consignee, place and date of collection, planned delivery location, standard description of the goods, gross weight, number of packages and any special instructions. In the event of a dispute (loss, damage, delay), the CMR consignment note is the reference document for establishing liability and the amount of compensation, capped by the convention according to the weight of the goods concerned.
For a purely domestic shipment, the functional equivalent is the domestic-law consignment note, which covers similar content without falling under the CMR convention. In both cases, this document physically accompanies the goods and complements the other documents in the transport file, such as the commercial invoice and the customs documents linked to the chosen Incoterm.
FAQ
Is the CMR consignment note mandatory?
It is required for any road transport of goods between two countries that have ratified the CMR convention, as soon as at least one of them is a party to it. Its absence or irregularity does not call into question the existence of the transport contract, but deprives the parties of a key piece of evidence in the event of a dispute.
What does the CMR consignment note prove in a dispute?
Unless reservations were noted at the time of collection, it certifies that the goods and their packaging were in apparent good condition and that the declared number of packages matched reality. It serves as the basis for determining liability in the event of loss, damage or delivery delay.
What is the difference between a CMR consignment note and a domestic consignment note?
The CMR consignment note governs international road transport between countries that signed the 1956 Geneva convention. The domestic consignment note plays an equivalent role for purely domestic transport, without falling under that international text.
Related terms
Chartering · Groupage · Freight · Incoterms · Freight forwarder / broker · Transport plan.
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