GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 23, 2026
Convention on International Multimodal Transport
A Convention on International Multimodal Transport is an international treaty establishing uniform rules for liability, documentation, and compensation whenever goods move under a single contract across two or more modes of transport.
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Source: https://unctad.org/topic/transport-and-trade-logistics/multimodal-transport
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Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?
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Definition & Explanation
A Convention on International Multimodal Transport is an international treaty establishing uniform rules for liability, documentation, and compensation whenever goods move under a single contract across two or more modes of transport. The principal instrument is the UNCTAD/ICC Convention of 1980, which sets out the obligations of the multimodal transport operator towards the shipper and provides a consolidated liability regime for loss, damage, or delay along the combined journey. In contrast to mode-specific conventions – such as the CMR for road haulage or the Hague-Visby Rules for sea carriage – this framework addresses the entire intermodal chain under one legal roof. Because the convention has not achieved universal ratification, carrier standard trading conditions and bilateral agreements frequently govern liability allocation in practice.
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