Free CMR consignment note template for international road transport
Under the CMR Convention (Geneva, 1956), a contract for the international carriage of goods by road is confirmed by a consignment note made out in three originals and signed by the sender and the carrier. The Convention lists what the note must contain but prescribes no layout. This sheet covers those particulars in its own layout; it is not the IRU model form and not an electronic e-CMR.
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What the template covers
- Date and place where the note is made out
- Sender, consignee and carrier with names and addresses, and successive carriers if any
- Place and date of taking over the goods and the place designated for delivery
- Marks and numbers, number of packages, method of packing and the description of the goods, with the recognised description for dangerous goods
- Gross weight in kg or other quantity, and volume
- Carriage charges, supplementary charges, customs duties and other charges, split between sender and consignee
- Instructions for customs and other formalities, documents handed to the carrier and, where applicable, no transhipment, cash on delivery, declared value, insurance and time-limit
- The statement that the carriage is subject to the CMR Convention, the carrier's reservations and the signatures of sender, carrier and consignee
Sources
- CMR Convention text as amended (UK Carriage of Goods by Road Act 1965, Schedule): articles 1, 4 to 9, 23, 30 and 32
- United Nations Treaty Collection, CMR Convention (Geneva, 19 May 1956), certified copy
- United Nations Treaty Collection, status of the CMR Convention (chapter XI-B-11)
- United Nations Treaty Collection, 1978 Protocol to the CMR (units of account)
- IRU, CMR frequently asked questions (form, copies, e-CMR)
- IRU, Serbia joins e-CMR (August 2026)
- GOV.UK, check what you need to drive an HGV across the border (CMR note)
- Federal Board of Revenue Pakistan, S.R.O. 2202(I)/2022, CMR rules
Guides on this topic
What the Convention requires
Article 6(1) lists eleven particulars, from the date and place of the note to a statement that the carriage is subject to the Convention notwithstanding any clause to the contrary. Article 6(2) adds seven more where applicable, such as cash on delivery, a declared value or an agreed time-limit, and the parties may add anything else they find useful. The note is made out in three originals: the first for the sender, the second travels with the goods and the third stays with the carrier. Signatures may be printed or replaced by stamps only where the law of the country in which the note is made out allows it, so sign the printed copies. If the CMR statement is missing, the carrier is liable for the loss this causes.
Reservations at loading and at delivery
On taking over the goods, the carrier checks the number of packages, their marks and numbers and their apparent condition. Reservations go on the note with their grounds and bind the sender only if the sender expressly agrees on the note; without reservations, the goods are presumed to have been in good apparent condition. At delivery, the consignee notes apparent loss or damage at the latest at delivery and sends written reservations for loss or damage that is not apparent within seven days, Sundays and public holidays excepted. Compensation for delay needs a written reservation within 21 days. Actions are time-barred after one year, or three years for wilful misconduct.
Scope, liability limit and e-CMR
The Convention applies to carriage for reward in road vehicles when the place of taking over and the place designated for delivery are in two different countries, at least one of them a contracting party (58, according to the UN Treaty Collection). Purely domestic carriage follows national law unless that law or the contract applies the CMR. In states that apply the 1978 Protocol, compensation for loss is limited to 8.33 SDR per kg of gross weight short, unless a higher value is declared on the note against a surcharge. Some authorities expect a particular printed form, for example in Belgium or under Pakistan's customs rules, so check the countries on the route. The 2008 Additional Protocol, in force since 5 June 2011 and joined by about 40 states, allows a fully electronic e-CMR; a printed spreadsheet is not one.
Common questions
Is there an official CMR consignment note form?
No. The CMR Convention lists the particulars the note must contain (Article 6) but does not prescribe a layout. The IRU model form is widely used, and some countries or customs authorities expect a particular printed form, so check the rules on your route.
How many copies of a CMR note are needed?
Three originals signed by the sender and the carrier: the first for the sender, the second travels with the goods to the consignee and the third is kept by the carrier. Printed sets often add a fourth copy for administrative use.
Who fills in the CMR consignment note?
Usually the sender or its forwarder prepares it, and the carrier checks it and signs when taking over the goods. The sender is responsible for loss caused by inaccurate particulars it supplies, such as the description, packages, weight and customs instructions (Article 7).
Does the CMR Convention apply to domestic transport?
No. It applies when the places of taking over and delivery are in two different countries, at least one of which is a contracting party. Purely domestic carriage follows national law, although some countries apply the CMR rules to it.
How long does the consignee have to report damage under the CMR?
Apparent loss or damage must be noted at the latest at delivery. Loss or damage that is not apparent must be reported in writing within seven days of delivery, Sundays and public holidays excepted, and delay within 21 days of the goods being placed at the consignee's disposal. Legal action must normally be brought within one year.
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