GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
consignment note
The consignment note is the core transport document that establishes the contract of carriage, confirms the carrier's receipt of the goods, and records all key particulars – shipper, consignee, commodity, weight, and conditions of transport.
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Source: https://unece.org/transport/road-transport/cmr-convention
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
The consignment note is the core transport document that establishes the contract of carriage, confirms the carrier's receipt of the goods, and records all key particulars – shipper, consignee, commodity, weight, and conditions of transport. In international road freight, the CMR consignment note is the binding standard under the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road; rail transport uses the CIM consignment note, while air freight relies on the Air Waybill (AWB). Crucially, unlike a bill of lading, a consignment note is not a document of title: it cannot be traded or used to transfer ownership of the goods. Customs authorities routinely use it to verify the origin, destination, and nature of the cargo.
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