CMR, or international consignment note, is the main document confirming the conclusion of a contract for the carriage of goods. The abbreviation CMR comes from the French Convention relative au contrat de transport international de Marchandise par Route. In Ukrainian, CMR is translated as the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road. The CMR Convention was developed on May 19, 1956 in Geneva.
What is the CMR convention used for?
The CMR Convention applies to the commercial carriage of goods by road by means of transport, i.e. by cars, front-wheel drive vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers. The CMR applies to international transport. If the place of receipt and the place of delivery of the goods are in two different countries, the Convention applies regardless of the nationality of the parties and their place of residence. Countries, state institutions and organizations can also carry out CMR transport.
What does the CMR Convention not apply to?
The CMR Convention does not apply to the carriage of:
- postal items,
- dead body,
- resettlement things.
What is a bill of lading? How many copies of a CMR consignment note are issued?
The confirmation of the conclusion of the transport contract is the consignment note. The CMR Convention does not establish a generally accepted model for the consignment note, therefore the CMR has different forms. The consignment note is drawn up in three copies – for the sender, for the carrier and the accompanying cargo, which will ultimately reach the consignee of the cargo. Each copy has the same legal force. If the cargo is intended to be transported by different means of transport or different types of cargo and in separate batches, the sender or carrier may require the issuance of a larger number of consignment notes in accordance with the number of vehicles to be used, or in accordance with the number of types. or batch of goods. It is worth remembering that the CMR Convention does not require the execution of a consignment note, and its absence, incorrectness or loss does not affect the existence or validity of the transport contract. The contract of carriage is in any case subject to the provisions of the CMR Convention.
Does the CMR have to be signed?
Waybills must be signed by the sender and the carrier. Signatures may be replaced by stamps of the sender and the carrier or may be printed if the legislation of the country in which the waybill is issued permits.
What should a CMR consignment note contain?
The invoice must contain the following data:
1) place and date of issue,
2) name (name) and address of the sender,
3) name (name) and address of the carrier,
4) place and date of acceptance of the goods for carriage and the intended place of its carriage. issue,
5) name (name) and address of the consignee,
6) a generally accepted description of the type of goods and the method of packaging, and for dangerous goods their generally accepted description,
7) number of pieces, their characteristics and quantity,
8) gross weight or otherwise expressed quantity of the goods,
9) costs associated with transportation (transport, additional costs, customs duties and other costs incurred from the time of conclusion of the contract to the time of delivery),
10) instructions necessary for the completion of customs and other formalities,
11) a statement that the carriage, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, is governed by the provisions of the Convention.
In addition, if necessary, the consignment note additionally indicates:
1) prohibition on transshipment,
2) costs borne by the sender,
3) amount of advance payment to be collected after delivery of the goods,
4) declared value of the goods and amount of special interest in its delivery,
5) instructions from the sender to the carrier regarding insurance of the shipment,
6) agreed date of carriage,
7) list of documents provided to the carrier.
Who issues the CMR consignment note?
The CMR document is prepared by the sender or the carrier when he receives the order. In the case of road transport, the CMR consignment note should be kept in the vehicle in case of inspection by customs authorities or the police. The CMR Convention does not specify who issues the CMR. The CMR consignment note must be drawn up in three original copies, signed by the sender and the carrier. However, it is worth remembering that the absence of a consignment note does not affect the validity of the contract of carriage. The CMR document streamlines the course of the carriage and confirms the conclusion of the contract. Waybills also perform an information function. The execution of a bill of lading facilitates the carriage of goods by indicating to the carrier how to carry out this carriage.
CMR document – obligations of the sender and recipient
In the transport industry, the carrier’s responsibilities include, among other things: checking the actual situation of the declaration in the CMR consignment note . Here, the carrier can note the reservation and other information about the goods. The sender can require the carrier to check the quantity of goods in the cargo during delivery. This action may require an additional fee from the carrier. The absence of comments indicates that at the time of receipt and release the goods were in good condition, and the data corresponded to the data in the consignment note. The sender is responsible for the correct execution of the CMR consignment note and the data contained in it.