The international CMR consignment note is translated as “Transportation of goods by road”. A CMR is a goods transport document used during international trade activities where goods must be transported by road only. The term CMR itself is an abbreviation from the French “Convention relative au contrat de transport international de marchandises par route”, translated into Russian meaning the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR). The carrier must have a CMR to transport goods by road around the world on a commercial basis (for example, from Ukraine to Morocco). If the sender does not provide a completed CMR, the transport company has the right to refuse shipment. Additionally, by documenting the agreed responsibilities of both parties, CMR offers an additional layer of protection in the event that goods are lost or damaged in transit.
What does the CMR invoice contain?
A CMR consignment note is sometimes called an ICN (international consignment note) and contains information about:
- sender (exporter of goods);
- carrier (transport company responsible for transporting goods by road);
- recipient (importer of goods);
- type of cargo (dangerous or safe);
- product packaging;
- the cost of carriage that may be charged;
- weight and size of the item;
- details of cargo receipt and delivery.
CMR in paper form is issued in 4 copies for the sender, carrier, recipient and administration.
Electronic version of CMR
With the advent of computerization, electronic copies of CMRs are created, stored, distributed and verified through an online paperless audit trail. However, if necessary, PDF versions can be printed locally for a specific application. Electronic CMR is available in various applications that are leaders in paperless trading practices. For example, EdgeCTP software.
Requirements for the invoice
If your goods are transported by road worldwide, you must use a CMR waybill. The CMR consignment note forms an agreement between the sender and the transport company (carrier), which confirms that the carrier has received the goods for transportation by road to an international destination. In addition, the CMR also establishes the conditions of carriage and liability between the sender and the transport company (companies, if there are several of them).
How is the CMR filled out?
Logistics/shipping or forwarding firms can help you complete the CMR, usually in paper form (4-part version). However, you are responsible for the information included in the CMR, so knowing how to complete a CMR waybill is vital to your international trading responsibilities. By using the services of UTS, you receive detailed assistance in filling out the CMR invoice template. Templates and examples of this document are available on the Internet; you can familiarize yourself with them before contacting specialists.
Here’s a summary of the sections of the CMR invoice and what you need to successfully complete the document:
- Information about the exporter.
You will need to provide the exact address of the organization, as well as the full legal name with all details (if you are the sender/exporter of goods). - Information about the consignee.
It is also important to provide reliable information about the buyer. This includes the full name or company name and address (of the person who will receive the goods). - Details of receipt of goods.
Next, indicate the exact location of receipt, date and time when the shipping company picks up the goods for transportation. The details and conditions under which the consignee can pick up the goods are indicated. - Delivery details.
You will need to indicate the delivery location and operating time where the carrier company should deliver the goods. The date must be accurate, as the return conditions are also specified. Timing plays a paramount role in the consignee’s expectations. - Instructions for the sender.
Providing any instructions for cargo handling and successful delivery is the top priority of the bill of lading. This includes topics such as customs clearance of goods, insurance, or any other instructions related to the transportation and safe delivery of cargo by road that the carrier company must adhere to. - Details of the carrier (main carrier).
The name, address and contact details of the carrier responsible for transporting the goods to the destination are indicated. The legal name of the company is entered exactly. - Consecutive carrier details (in case of multiple carriers).
The name, address and contact details of the carrier responsible for completing the transportation of the goods to the destination are indicated. This section may/must be signed by the carrier upon receipt of the goods. The date of receipt and the signature of the authorized company are also indicated. - Carrier booking.
Completed by the carrier and will include comments regarding transportation and other process steps at the time the shipment is accepted, including: number of packages occupied, identification/package markings or other packaging numbers and type. Any comments made here by the carrier must be approved by the shipper (you as the exporter or sender of the goods). - Submitted documents.
It is indicated that additional documents were provided to the carrier along with the CMR consignment note and the cargo. It is very important that a commercial or shipping invoice be provided. If the buyer needs confirmation of the origin of the goods, it is also necessary to provide a Certificate of Origin of the goods. If goods are covered by a trade agreement with reduced customs tariffs, the appropriate Movement Certificate must be provided. If the goods are classified as dangerous or are of such a nature, then a dangerous goods bill of lading (DGN) may be attached (although the CMR bill of lading already has provisions for dangerous goods). It is also a good idea to add a packing slip for items being shipped. All attached documents must be listed in the invoice. - Detailed product information.
The necessary information about goods shipped by road is provided, including labeling, quantity, packaging, type, weight and dimensions, and in the case of dangerous goods, cargo data. All cargo data is posted in this section. - Special agreement.
All special arrangements involving the shipper with the carrier are provided, such as declaration of the value of the goods, transit time restrictions, handling and transportation considerations for the safe transport of goods, use of pallets and loading, stowage and unloading, ferry approval, applicable jurisdictions and contractual transportation obligations for both parties. - Amounts to be paid by the sender (consignor) and the buyer (consignee).
Shipping costs, surcharges, customs duties and other charges are provided and must be paid by both the sender (exporter) and the buyer (importer) of the goods. - Other useful information.
Any additional information that may be useful to other parties is provided. For example, vehicle registration plate, net weight of the goods (gross weight is already indicated), carrying capacity, any relevant carnets or customs documents required when transporting goods. - Payment on delivery.
Specify the amount of money that the recipient must pay (reimburse) to the carrier at the point of delivery and that the carrier must pay the sender in full, even if the recipient has not paid (reimbursed) the exact/full price. Any amounts must be paid in the currency of the nominal value. - Declaration.
For the sender section, the place where the CMR invoice was created, the date and signature are indicated. Carriers and the consignee/recipient complete their subsections in this part of the CMR declaration upon receipt of the cargo.