What is CMR? The international consignment note

What is CMR?

CMR is the international convention governing the contract for the carriage of goods by road when the place of loading and the place of delivery are in different countries and at least one of them is party to the convention. The “CMR consignment note” is the document that proves that contract; its electronic version is the eCMR.

The CMR Convention

CMR is the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, signed in Geneva on 19 May 1956 under the umbrella of the UN. It defines the consignment note, what it contains and how liability is shared between sender, carrier and consignee. Spain acceded in 1974 (BOE-A-1974-753).

What the consignment note contains (Art. 6)

The CMR consignment note is normally made out in three copies (sender, carrier and the one that travels with the goods) and includes, among other mandatory particulars under Article 6: place and date of issue; sender, carrier and consignee; place of taking over and place of delivery; nature and packing of the goods; number of packages and weight; carriage charges; customs instructions; and a statement that the carriage is subject to the Convention. CMR does not apply to Spanish domestic transport: there the consignment note is governed by Law 15/2009 on contracts for the carriage of goods by land, and the control document by Order FOM/2861/2012.

Giormo generates the documents for each journey straight from the order — the CMR consignment note or eCMR for international journeys, the DeCA for domestic ones in Spain — with signatures and delivery photos. See it in action.

Information sheet only; this is not legal advice. For the binding text, see the official sources.

Official sources

CMR Convention (Geneva, 1956) — Spain's instrument of accession, BOE-A-1974-753. www.boe.es
Additional Protocol concerning the electronic consignment note (eCMR), BOE-A-2011-10283. www.boe.es

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CMR and eCMR?

The CMR consignment note is the paper document for international road transport; the eCMR is its electronic version, equally valid, governed by the Additional Protocol to the Convention (Geneva, 2008).

How many copies does a CMR consignment note have?

It is normally made out in three originals: one for the sender, one for the carrier and a third that travels with the goods.

Is CMR mandatory?

Yes, in international road transport subject to the Convention: the contract is confirmed by a CMR consignment note (Art. 4), although its absence does not invalidate the contract. It can be issued on paper or electronically (eCMR); the eCMR is voluntary and only valid between countries that are parties to its Protocol. CMR does not apply to Spanish domestic transport, which is governed by Law 15/2009.

The consignment note, straight from the order

Giormo generates the CMR consignment note for international journeys straight from the order, with signatures and delivery photos, as well as its electronic version, the eCMR; domestic haulage in Spain gets the DeCA. An ERP/TMS for tanker transport, already in production. Tell us how you work.