The CMR consignment note: what it is, when it is required, how to fill it in
The reference for the international road transport document, box by box, with a free generator for when you are ready to fill one in.
How it works
Fill in the CMR online
Add sender, consignee, route, goods, and transport details directly in your browser.
Print or sign digitally
Print the CMR or share it as a PDF. Sign on screen if needed.
Confirm delivery
Mark the delivery as completed, add signatures or photos, and share the final CMR.
What is a CMR consignment note?
The CMR consignment note is the international transport document required whenever goods move by road across borders between countries that signed the CMR Convention (Geneva, 1956). More than 50 countries are signatories, including every member of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and most of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The CMR proves the contract of carriage between three parties: the sender (who hands over the goods), the carrier (who transports them), and the consignee (who receives them). It records what was shipped, from where, to where, by whom, and under what conditions. When signed by sender and carrier at loading, and by the consignee at delivery, it becomes the legal proof that the transport took place as agreed.
Customs authorities, insurers, and courts across the CMR zone accept the document as evidence of the transport contract. Without a CMR — or with an incomplete one — a cross-border shipment can be delayed at the border, rejected by customs, or leave the carrier exposed in case of a damage claim.
The CMR is known by different names across Europe: Frachtbrief (Germany, Austria), Vrachtbrief (Netherlands, Belgium), Lettre de voiture (France, Belgium), List przewozowy (Poland), Scrisoare de trăsură (Romania), Lettera di vettura (Italy), Carta de porte (Spain). It is the same document — the format and content are standardized by the convention.
If you regularly ship on the same corridor, our document checklists by country pair list exactly what paperwork each leg requires, beyond the CMR itself.
How to fill in a CMR, box by box
The CMR has 24 numbered boxes. The sender fills in boxes 1 to 15, 19, 21 and 22 and is responsible for them; the carrier completes 16 to 18, 20 and 23; the consignee signs box 24 on delivery. Here is what goes in each.
- 1
Sender (name, address, country)
The company handing over the goods. Full legal name, address and country.
- 2
Consignee (name, address, country)
Who receives the goods at destination. Name, address and country.
- 3
Place designated for delivery
The unloading address, with the country.
- 4
Place and date of taking over the goods
Where and when the carrier picks the goods up.
- 5
Documents attached
Invoice, packing list, export declaration or certificates travelling with the goods.
- 6
Marks and Nos.
Markings and numbers on the packages, so they can be identified.
- 7
Number of packages
How many pallets, boxes or units are handed over.
- 8
Method of packing
Pallets, boxes, bags, bulk, and so on.
- 9
Nature of goods
What the goods are, in plain words. For dangerous goods add the ADR class and UN number.
- 10
Statistical No.
The customs tariff code (HS code) of the goods, if used.
- 11
Gross weight kg
Total weight including packaging.
- 12
Volume m³
Space the goods take, if carriage is charged by volume.
- 13
Sender's instructions
Customs, insurance, temperature or handling instructions to the carrier.
- 14
Payment instructions for carriage
Whether carriage is prepaid by the sender or paid by the consignee.
- 15
Cash on delivery
Amount the carrier must collect from the consignee, if any.
- 16
Carrier (name, address, country)
The transport company and its address. The vehicle registration is noted here too.
- 17
Successive carriers (name, address, country)
Any other carriers taking over part of the journey.
- 18
Carrier's reservations and observations
The driver's remarks at loading: damaged packaging, missing count, no chance to check.
- 19
Special agreements
Anything agreed beyond the convention: delivery deadline, declared value, route.
- 20
To be paid by
Breakdown of carriage charges and extras, and who pays them.
- 21
Established in
Place and date the CMR was drawn up.
- 22
Signature and stamp of the sender
Signature and stamp of the sender at loading.
- 23
Signature and stamp of the carrier
Signature and stamp of the carrier taking the goods over.
- 24
Goods received
Place, date, signature and stamp of the consignee on delivery. This is the proof of delivery.
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Create CMR NowWhat's on a CMR consignment note?
The CMR consignment note has 24 numbered boxes, grouped into four areas. Every box has a specific purpose defined by the convention. You only fill in the boxes relevant to your shipment — most fields become second nature after the first few documents.
Parties and route (boxes 1–5)
Sender name and address · Consignee name and address · Place and date of taking over the goods · Place designated for delivery · Carrier details
Goods (boxes 6–12)
Marks and numbers · Number of packages · Method of packing · Nature of the goods · Statistical number (HS code) · Gross weight in kg · Volume in m³
Carriage instructions (boxes 13–19)
Sender's instructions · Documents attached (invoice, packing list, etc.) · Cash on delivery · Carriage charges and who pays them · Special agreements · Reservations and observations by the carrier
Signatures (boxes 22–24)
Signature and stamp of the sender · Signature and stamp of the carrier · Signature of the consignee at delivery
Want to make sure your CMR contains everything required? Our free CMR quality checker walks you through each field, flags what's missing, and gives you a quality score.
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Why use EleFleet for CMR online
Compliance & document validity
EleFleet generates CMR consignment notes in accordance with the international CMR Convention (Geneva, 1956). Each document includes all mandatory fields: sender, carrier, consignee, goods description, loading and unloading locations, and space for signatures.
Signed PDFs are securely archived and always available for download. The digital CMR consignment note is valid as proof of the transport contract and is accepted by customs and insurers in all countries that have signed the CMR Convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CMR PDF legally valid?
Yes. EleFleet generates CMR documents according to the CMR Convention. The PDF can be printed or signed digitally for use in international road transport.
Can I sign the CMR electronically?
Yes. You can capture signatures directly on screen from drivers and recipients, or upload a signed document as proof of delivery.
Do I need to install software?
No. EleFleet works entirely in your browser — on desktop, tablet, or mobile. There's nothing to download or install.
What is a CMR consignment note?
A CMR consignment note is an international transport document required for cross-border road transport of goods. CMR stands for 'Convention relative au Contrat de Transport International de Marchandises par Route'. It documents the goods, the sender, the carrier and the consignee, and serves as proof of the transport contract.
What information is on a CMR consignment note?
A CMR consignment note contains: sender, carrier and consignee details, loading and unloading addresses, description of goods (nature, quantity, weight), packaging type, date of receipt, and signatures of sender and carrier. Additional fields such as reservations, instructions and customs references can also be filled in.
When is a CMR consignment note required?
A CMR consignment note is required for international road transport between countries that have signed the CMR Convention. For domestic transport, national waybills are typically used. EleFleet supports both scenarios.
How can I fill in a CMR for free?
On the free CMR generator: fill in the form, preview it, download the official PDF. Your CMRs stay in a free account, 3 a month, with the same features as the paid plans.
Is a CMR mandatory for domestic transport?
Internationally, yes: the CMR Convention applies as soon as the loading and delivery places are in two different countries and at least one is a signatory. For domestic transport the convention does not require it, but most countries require an equivalent consignment note, and many companies use the CMR form domestically because every party already knows it.
Where can I get a CMR template or example?
Fill one in on the free CMR generator. You see the preview before signing up and download the official 4-copy PDF, the same layout as a paper pad. Nothing to download or install.
Who has to fill in the CMR?
The sender. Under the convention the consignment note is drawn up by the sender, who answers for its particulars (boxes 1 to 15, 19, 21 and 22). The carrier adds its own details and reservations, and the consignee signs on delivery.
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