A signed CMR consignment note should describe the goods actually taken over for carriage. If the document lists eight pallets but the driver collects seven, the discrepancy must be clarified at the loading bay. Reconstructing the arrangements later delays settlement and makes it harder to establish responsibility for the shortage.
What a CMR consignment note is for
For carriage covered by the CMR Convention, the consignment note is evidence of the contract, its terms and the carrier's receipt of the goods. An absent or incorrect note does not invalidate the contract, but it may weaken the evidence. The Convention also covers international carriage for reward by vans where its conditions are met. It contains no general exemption for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. [1]
The most important CMR fields
Check the field names: numbering can differ between forms. The document should primarily include:
- the names and addresses of the sender, carrier and consignee;
- the place and date of taking over the goods and the place of delivery;
- the place and date on which the consignment note is made out;
- the nature of the goods, packing method, number of packages, marks and numbers;
- the gross weight or quantity expressed in another way;
- instructions concerning formalities, carriage charges and the statement that the carriage is subject to CMR.
Where necessary, further details include a prohibition on transshipment, a delivery deadline and a list of accompanying documents. Distinguish the consignee's registered office from the warehouse address. For palletised goods, also establish whether the number in the document refers to pallets, cartons or individual products.
Signatures and reservations
A paper consignment note is made out in three original copies signed by the sender and the carrier. Article 5 permits certain alternatives to signatures where the law of the country in which the note is made out allows them. There is therefore no universal rule that a CMR note is invalid without a stamp. The delivery acknowledgement should make it possible to establish who received the consignment, when, and on behalf of which entity. [1]
The driver checks the number and marks of the packages and the apparent condition of the goods and packaging. Where there is no reasonable means of checking, the driver enters a reasoned reservation. Drivers should not confirm that they counted the contents of sealed packages if they did not do so.
Common mistakes
- Entering the net weight as the gross weight and omitting packaging.
- Recording the planned date as the actual date of taking over the goods.
- Confirming delivery of the entire consignment when only part of the goods was unloaded.
- Leaving no remarks despite visible damage or a quantity discrepancy.
- Adding changes after signature without confirmation or a record of the correction.
An absence of carrier reservations may trigger the presumptions under Article 9 CMR concerning apparent condition and the number of packages. A vague remark such as “subject to check” will usually fail to explain what was in doubt.
What to do when details do not match
Pause the operation that requires clarification and contact the dispatcher. Compare the order, labels and consignment note. Record the difference and retain photographs showing the consignment identifier. The dispatcher should obtain instructions from the appropriate person and confirmation of the change.
Example entry: “7 pallets taken over instead of the 8 listed in the consignment note; pallet marked P08 missing.” The entry must reflect what was actually found. Under Article 8(2), the carrier's reservations require the sender's express agreement in the consignment note in order to bind the sender. Any refusal to confirm them should be documented. [1]
Quick checklist before departure
- Quantities, marks and locations match the agreed carriage.
- The weight and the suitability of the particular vehicle have been clarified.
- Reservations and agreed corrections are legible.
- Signatures, accompanying documents and copies are complete.
After delivery, link the CMR note to the POD, or proof of delivery. A scan of a paper document does not automatically become an e-CMR; an electronic consignment note must provide, among other things, authentication and data integrity. [2]
Agree the documents before transport
Planning a shipment with AMG Trans? Email hello@amg-trans.eu with the route, dates, number of packages, gross weight and documentation requirements. We discuss the wider set of documents in our guide to international transport documentation (PL).
FAQ
Is the CMR consignment note the contract of carriage?
It provides evidence that the contract was made and of its terms. The absence of the note alone does not invalidate the contract.
Does the driver have to weigh every load?
Article 8 CMR does not require every consignment to be weighed. However, any doubts about the weight and the vehicle's permitted load must be resolved before departure.
Can an acknowledged CMR note serve as POD?
Yes, if it documents receipt of the correct consignment and meets the agreed requirements.