CMR is the international consignment note issued for the carriage of goods by road for reward between two different countries. It proves that a contract of carriage has been concluded, the condition in which the goods were handed over to the carrier and to whom they are to be delivered. It takes its name from the 1956 Geneva CMR Convention; Türkiye's accession was approved in 1993 by Law No. 3939, and the country became a party in 1995.
The legal function of the CMR document
The CMR consignment note is written evidence of the contract of carriage between the sender and the carrier. Under Article 9 of the Convention, unless the contrary is proven, the conditions written in the note, the taking over of the goods by the carrier and their apparent condition as stated in the note are accepted as fact. The absence or incompleteness of the note does not invalidate the contract (Article 4); however, in a dispute over damage or loss, the burden of proof becomes heavier.
Unlike the bill of lading in sea transport, the CMR is not a document of title; ownership of the goods cannot be transferred by endorsing it. In Türkiye, accession to the Convention was approved by Law No. 3939 published in the Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete) of 14 December 1993; the instrument of accession was deposited with the UN on 2 August 1995, and the Convention entered into force for Türkiye in the same year. For the scope and field of application of the Convention, see the entry on the CMR Convention.
Which information is mandatory in a CMR?
Article 6 of the Convention lists the particulars that the note must contain:
- Place and date of issue
- Name and address of the sender, carrier and consignee
- Place and date of taking over of the goods, and place designated for delivery
- Nature of the goods, method of packing, number of packages, marks and numbers; for dangerous goods, their generally recognised description
- Gross weight or quantity expressed in another unit
- Carriage charges and instructions for customs formalities
- A statement that the carriage is subject to the provisions of the Convention
Where necessary, a prohibition on transhipment, the declared value, insurance instructions, the agreed time limit for carriage and a list of documents handed to the carrier are also added.
Who issues it and how many copies are there?
The note is made out in three original copies and signed by the sender and the carrier (Article 5). The first copy stays with the sender, the second travels with the goods to the consignee, and the carrier keeps the third. In practice, the form is mostly filled in by the carrier or forwarder, and the sender signs it during loading. Printed forms usually come in four or five copies; the extra copies are for the forwarder and customs procedures. Details of signatures and distribution of copies are in the entry on how many copies of the CMR document are issued.
When is a CMR required?
If the place of taking over of the goods and the place designated for delivery are in two different countries, at least one of which is a party to the Convention, every carriage of goods by road for reward is subject to the CMR. The nationality and place of residence of the parties do not matter. Postal consignments, funeral consignments and furniture removals are excluded. If a truck is loaded onto a RoRo vessel or train without the goods being unloaded, the entire carriage remains subject to the CMR (Article 2). For domestic transport in Türkiye, the Turkish Commercial Code (Türk Ticaret Kanunu) applies.
Differences between the CMR, invoice, delivery note and TIR carnet
| Document | What does it prove? | Who issues it? |
|---|---|---|
| CMR consignment note | The contract of carriage and the condition of the goods when taken over | Sender and carrier together |
| Commercial invoice | The sale, the price and the delivery terms | Seller |
| Delivery note (sevk irsaliyesi) | The dispatch of the goods for tax purposes | The company dispatching the goods |
| TIR carnet | Customs transit and the duty guarantee | Issued to the carrier by an authorised association |
The documents cannot replace one another. For detailed comparisons, see the entries on the difference between the delivery note and the CMR and the difference between the TIR carnet and the CMR.
Common mistakes
- Not entering packaging damage seen at loading as a reservation on the note (Article 8)
- Issuing a note in which the number of packages does not match the quantity on the invoice
- Unloading the vehicle without obtaining the consignee's signature, stamp and date at delivery
How does Voltim Global help?
On international road transport trips carried out under its Freight Forwarder (Taşıma İşleri Organizatörü, TİO) authorisation from the Ministry of Transport, Voltim Global prepares the CMR particulars by cross-checking them against the invoice and customs documents.