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CMR consignment note - Definition & Meaning | Logistics Glossary

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

CMR consignment note

A CMR consignment note is the standardised transport document required for international road shipments under the CMR Convention (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road).

Quick Answer

A CMR consignment note is the standardised transport document required for international road shipments under the CMR Convention (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by…

The sender issues it and hands it to the carrier; it simultaneously serves as evidence of the transport contract, acknowledgement of receipt of the goods, and record of the agreed terms of carriage.

Unlike a bill of lading, the CMR note is not a negotiable instrument – it carries no title to the goods and cannot be traded.

Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://unece.org/transport/road-transport/cmr-convention-and-protocols

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CMR consignment note

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Definition & Explanation

A CMR consignment note is the standardised transport document required for international road shipments under the CMR Convention (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road). The sender issues it and hands it to the carrier; it simultaneously serves as evidence of the transport contract, acknowledgement of receipt of the goods, and record of the agreed terms of carriage. Unlike a bill of lading, the CMR note is not a negotiable instrument – it carries no title to the goods and cannot be traded. At minimum, three originals are produced: one for the sender, one for the consignee, and one that travels with the shipment. Throughout European road freight, it is the primary document accepted by forwarders, shippers, and customs authorities as proof of carriage.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – CMR consignment note (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cmr-consignment-note), accessed 2026-09-12
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). CMR consignment note. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cmr-consignment-note
BibTeX: @misc{cmrconsignmentnote2025, title = {CMR consignment note}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cmr-consignment-note}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-12} }

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