CMR (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) is an international convention that outlines uniform legal rules for the international carriage of goods by road. It establishes the responsibilities of the sender, the carrier, and the receiver, and provides a framework for liability in case of loss or damage.
Key features of CMR:
- CMR Waybill (CMR document). A transport document issued by the carrier, detailing cargo, sender, receiver, and transport terms.
- Carrier liability. The carrier is responsible for loss, damage, or delays, except in cases of force majeure.
- Cross-border application: Used in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia to regulate road transport between CMR signatory countries.
- No ownership transfer: CMR regulates transport but does not serve as a title of ownership like a bill of lading.
CMRs are still not fully updated to the digital world, but in 2011 the eCMR protocol was added to the CRM convention, paving the way for electronic CMRs. trace:original eCMRs are an easy way to get started.