Consignment Note Template (Frachtbrief)

The consignment note (German: Frachtbrief) documents the carriage contract for transports within Germany: who ships what, who carries it, who accepts it. This free template covers all particulars listed in § 408 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) – as a fillable PDF or a Word document for your own layout.

When is a consignment note issued?

Contrary to common belief, the consignment note is not mandatory for domestic German transports – the carriage contract is valid without it. Under § 408 HGB the carrier may demand one, and in practice it benefits both sides: the note evidences the conclusion and content of the contract as well as the carrier's takeover of the goods. For the legal background see the glossary entry Frachtbrief; for cross-border transports use the CMR consignment note instead.

What the template includes

The template follows the catalog of § 408 HGB:

• Place and date of issue
• Name and address of sender, carrier, and recipient
• Place and date of takeover and the designated place of delivery (unloading point)
• Customary description of the goods, packaging, and – for dangerous goods – the prescribed classification
• Number, marks, and numbers of packages
• Gross weight or otherwise specified quantity
• Agreed freight, costs up to delivery, and payment instruction
• Instructions for customs and other official handling
• Signature fields for all three parties

Consignment note, delivery note, CMR – which one when?

Document	Use case	Template
Delivery note	Travels with the goods, documents the contents	Delivery note template
Consignment note (domestic)	Documents the carriage contract within Germany	this page
CMR consignment note	Standard for cross-border transports	CMR template

Don't forget proof of delivery

A consignment note only pays off once delivery is acknowledged: the recipient's date and signature confirm that the goods arrived complete and undamaged. That last step is exactly what gets lost most often on paper. A digital proof of delivery with signature, photo, and timestamp closes the gap – instantly visible to dispatch, accounting, and the shipper.

Frequently asked questions

Is a consignment note mandatory in Germany? No. It is an evidentiary document the carrier can demand under § 408 HGB – there is no general obligation in domestic transport.

Who fills in the consignment note? Usually the sender; the carrier confirms takeover with a signature. Each party is liable for the accuracy of the entries they made.

How long must consignment notes be retained? As commercial correspondence, generally six years – if used as an accounting record, the longer retention periods for vouchers apply.

Is a delivery note enough instead? For simple transports the delivery note often plays both roles in practice. Once a carrier is engaged and liability questions may arise, the consignment note is the cleaner document.