What is CMR Convention?

This CMR Convention was formed in Geneva in 1956 and amended only once in 1978. This convention governs the transportation of goods by road in most European countries. The CMR is of great significance to carriers, exporters, and importers in these countries since it helps promote international trade all across Europe. In this article, we will talk about everything you need to know about the CMR convention.

The CMR Convention: Definition and Purpose

The acronym “CMR” stands for Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road. The purpose of the CMR convention is to standardize the conditions governing international road transportation of goods from one country to another, with one of the countries being a contracting party. This convention is only applicable if one of the countries has ratified the CMR. The CMR convention acts as a guideline for how the international transportation of goods by road occurs in these countries.

Which Countries Have Ratified the CMR Convention?

The CMR convention has been in operation since 1956, and since then, more than 55 countries have ratified it. Most of the countries are European. The few non-European ones include Tunisia, Morocco, Iran, among many more. The guidelines of the CMR convention are available in three languages, English, Russian and French.

The CMR Convention Guidelines

The CMR Convention is divided into eight chapters, with each highlighting a specific provision topic. The chapters are subdivided further into 51 articles. The convention covers provisions like:

• The scope of application
• Responsibilities of the consignor, consignee, and carrier
• Claims and actions of all parties
• Liability of the carrier
• The role of successive carriers
• Particulars to highlight on the CMR consignment note
• The ratification process for countries that wish to participate in the convention
• The denunciation process for countries that want to leave the convention.

What is the Scope of Application?

The CMR Convention is applicable if:

• The transportation of goods is for profit or reward
• Transportation is by road.
• Shipment is from one country to another country.
• One or both of the countries are a signatory party to the CMR convention.

The CMR convention also applies where the sender or receiver is a government organization or institution.

The CMR Convention is not applicable if:

• None of the countries is a signatory party.
• The shipment is a burial consignment.
• The carriage is a postal cargo.
• The cargo is furniture removal or home relocation.

For confirmation purposes, the International Road Transport Union created a CMR document based on the CMR convention. This document, also known as the CMR waybill, highlights particulars like:

• Names, addresses, and signature of the consignor.
• Names, addresses, and signature of the consignee.
• Names, addresses, and signature of the carrier.
• Nature of cargo (weight, volume, and packaging).
• Charges relating to the carriage.
• Date and place of issue.

The CMR consignment note is filled out by the consignor. You can complete the document with a ball pen, computer, or typewriter. Filling out this document with CMR online generator is actually faster and more convenient than with a pen. It also saves you from paperwork. The CMR consignment note is filled out in four copies. The first copy is for the sender, while the second and third are for the carrier and receiver. The fourth copy is for administrative purposes.

Final Thoughts

The CMR convention stands for Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road. This convention governs the carriage of goods by road from one country to another, with one of the countries being a signatory party to the CMR. The CMR Convention is ratified in most European countries, although there are a few outside Europe. This convention highlights information like the scope of application and responsibilities of the sender, carrier, and receiver.