CMR Consignment Note
Free CMR consignment note template as PDF and Word – with meaning, a field-by-field guide to boxes 1–24, the copies, and liability under CMR.
Reviewed by Max Valjan, founder of Maxmove · Last updated: August 4, 2026
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The CMR consignment note is the standard document for cross-border road transport. Download a blank CMR template free as PDF or Word here – and learn what the CMR consignment note means, how to complete boxes 1–24, who keeps which copy, and how liability under CMR works.
What is the CMR consignment note? The meaning
CMR stands for "Convention relative au contrat de transport international de marchandises par route" – the 1956 Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, which applies in almost every European country. The CMR consignment note documents the carriage contract between sender, carrier, and recipient: it proves the contract, the condition of the goods at takeover, and the delivery. For the legal background on scope and applicable law, see the glossary entry CMR consignment note.
When do I need a CMR consignment note?
Whenever goods travel by truck or van across a border between two CMR contracting states, the CMR Convention applies automatically – whether or not a consignment note was issued. Strictly speaking the document is not a validity requirement, but in practice it is indispensable: customs, insurers, and shippers expect it. For purely domestic German transports, the simpler national consignment note is sufficient.
The copies: who keeps which one?
A CMR consignment note is issued in at least three originals:
| Copy | Customary color | Kept by |
|---|---|---|
| 1st original | Red | Sender |
| 2nd original | Blue | Recipient (travels with the goods) |
| 3rd original | Green | Carrier |
| Further copies | Black | Customs, statistics, internal filing |
Field-by-field guide: boxes 1–24
The boxes of the CMR note are numbered identically across Europe. The key ones:
| Box | Content | Completed by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sender with full address | Sender |
| 2 | Recipient with full address | Sender |
| 3 | Place of delivery (city, country) | Sender |
| 4 | Place and date of takeover | Sender |
| 5 | Attached documents (e.g. delivery note, invoice) | Sender |
| 6–9 | Marks, number of packages, packaging, description of goods | Sender |
| 10–12 | Statistical number, gross weight, volume | Sender |
| 13 | Sender's instructions (e.g. customs handling) | Sender |
| 14 | Freight payment instruction (paid/collect) | Sender |
| 16/17 | Carrier and successive carriers | Carrier |
| 18 | Carrier's reservations and remarks | Carrier |
| 21 | Place and date of issue | Sender |
| 22 | Signature/stamp of the sender | Sender |
| 23 | Signature/stamp of the carrier | Carrier |
| 24 | Recipient's acknowledgment of receipt with date | Recipient |
Important: box 24 is the heart of the document – only with the recipient's date, signature, and stamp is delivery proven. Reservations (e.g. damaged packaging) must be recorded in writing in boxes 18 or 24; otherwise the goods count as taken over in good condition.
Liability under CMR: 8.33 SDR per kilogram
The CMR Convention governs the carrier's liability mandatorily – deviating agreements at the sender's expense are void. For loss or damage, liability is generally limited to 8.33 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram of gross weight (Art. 23 CMR); depending on the SDR rate, that is roughly 10 euros per kilogram. For exceeding the delivery time, the carrier is liable up to the amount of the freight. For higher-value goods, cargo insurance or declaring a higher value on the consignment note against a surcharge is therefore worthwhile.
CMR without the paper chase
Lost CMR originals mean liability disputes and late payments – many shippers only pay against the signed consignment note. A digital proof of delivery solves this: signature, photos, and GPS timestamps are captured at handover and instantly available to everyone involved, while the paper copy is still in the vehicle.