The Road Waybill (CMR): what it is and what it is for

The international transport of goods by road is essential since it allows any merchandise to be sent anywhere in the world, thanks to its main advantage, which is the balance between price and conservation. The transport of goods by road is one of the most used methods to move goods from one end of the world to the other. Therefore, it is important to know what regulations and what documents are necessary to correctly transport goods outside our borders. In this article we explain all the details about the road waybill (CMR) so that you do not have any doubts when transporting goods by road abroad.

What is the road consignment note (CMR)

The road consignment note is a legal document that constitutes the road transport contract that exists between the exporter and the carrier. This document is included in the regulations of the CMR Convention. It is issued in triplicate that must be signed by the person receiving the merchandise and the person transporting it. The CMR agreement was signed in Geneva in 1956 and came into force in Spain in 1974. This agreement establishes the mandatory use (with some exceptions) of the CMR road waybill as long as any type of transport of goods by road to different countries is carried out, and at least one of the countries is part of the CMR Convention.

What is the road waybill (CMR) for

The road consignment note mainly serves as:

• Receipt of merchandise since it indicates which merchandise was contracted and what its conditions were.
• Proof of the contract of carriage that exists between the carrier and the sender of the document.
• Invoice from the transport company that includes the amount corresponding to the service offered. The road consignment note is different from other transport documents, since it is not a credit document, that is, its possession does not imply ownership of the merchandise and, therefore, is not negotiable. Usually, the merchandise is put in the name of a specific person or company.

Data that must be included in the road consignment note (CMR)

As a general rule, this type of transport contract must be agreed upon by both parties. The road consignment note must include the following information:

• Place and date of issue
• Name and address of the carrier and shipper
• Name and address of the carrier and the third party receiving the shipment
• Place and date of receipt of the shipment by the carrier
• Place and expected date of delivery of the shipment at destination
• Name and address of the final recipient of the merchandise
• Nature of the goods that make up the shipment. It must include the number of packages, their identification signs and the quantity of goods sent
• Identify if it contains any type of dangerous merchandise
• Type of packaging used to condition the shipment -Price of transportation of the merchandise
• Indication of whether the price of the service is paid by the shipper or the recipient
• Declaration of value of the goods or of special interest in delivery

This document is issued by the transport agency, so that the carrier has all the information to formalize the collection. However, it is common for the exporter himself, that is, the sender, to complete the boxes on the document upon arrival of the truck.

When the road consignment note (CMR) is not mandatory

The CMR agreement applies to all road transport contracts whose loading and unloading points are located in completely different countries. However, the road consignment note will not be required in the following circumstances:

• Moving transports
• Funeral transports
• Postal transport
• Transport of vehicles that have suffered a breakdown or accident
• Parcel transportation service