What is a CMR document and which fields must not be left blank?
The CMR document is the consignment note used in international road freight. It takes its name from the French abbreviation of the 1956 Geneva convention. It shows that the carrier has taken over the goods and on what terms they will be carried.
Who holds the CMR?
It is usually made out in three original copies: one stays with the sender, one travels with the goods to the consignee and one stays with the carrier. It has to be in the vehicle at border crossings and at customs.
Fields that must not be left blank
- Full names and addresses of the sender and the consignee
- Place and date of loading, place of delivery
- Number of packages, type of packing and description of the goods
- Gross weight
- List of attached documents (invoice, packing list, certificate of origin)
- Signatures of the sender and the carrier
Common mistakes
A package count on the CMR that does not match the invoice, a rounded gross weight and a shortened consignee name are the cases that cause the longest waits at the border. Comparing the CMR with the commercial documents before loading prevents most of these problems.
