CMR Waybill: Fields & How to Fill It

The CMR waybill is the consignment note for international road freight — what each box means, who signs it, and why it is your legal proof of carriage.

When goods cross a border by truck, the CMR waybill travels with them as the contract between you, the carrier and the consignee. Get the boxes right at loading and you have clean proof of what was handed over, in what condition, and to whom — exactly what you need if a claim or customs query lands later.

What the CMR is (and is not)

The CMR consignment note is governed by the CMR Convention of 1956, which applies automatically to any road carriage where the pick-up and delivery countries are different. It is two things at once: proof of the contract of carriage, and proof that the carrier received the goods in the stated condition.

It is issued in at least three original copies:

Copy 1 — stays with the sender
Copy 2 — travels with the goods to the consignee
Copy 3 — kept by the carrier

One thing the CMR is not: a document of title. Unlike a bill of lading in sea freight, possession of the CMR does not transfer ownership of the goods. It evidences carriage, not title.

The key boxes and who fills them

Box	Field	Who completes it
1	Sender (name, address, country)	Sender
2	Consignee (name, address, country)	Sender
3	Place of delivery	Sender
4	Place and date of taking over the goods	Sender / carrier
5	Documents attached (invoice, packing list)	Sender
6–9	Goods description, marks, packages, packing method	Sender
11	Gross weight (kg)	Sender
13	Sender's instructions (customs etc.)	Sender
16	Carrier (name, address)	Carrier
17	Successive carriers	Carrier
18	Carrier's reservations and observations	Carrier
22	Signature / stamp of the sender	Sender
23	Signature / stamp of the carrier	Carrier
24	Goods received (signature on delivery)	Consignee

Reservations: the box that protects you

Box 18 is where the driver writes any reservation — for example "3 cartons crushed" or "pallet wrap torn". This matters because if the carrier signs without reservation, the goods are presumed to have been received in good order and matching the description. Note discrepancies at the point of handover, not afterwards, or the burden of proof shifts onto you.

Signatures and legal weight

Three signatures complete the cycle: the sender at loading, the carrier when taking over the goods, and the consignee on delivery (box 24). A fully signed CMR with no reservations is strong evidence that the load arrived as described. That paper trail is what supports a claim against the carrier or its insurer under the Convention's liability rules.

If you move international road freight regularly, UMERA turns a shipment brief into compared carrier quotes, so the booking that produces this CMR starts from a clear RFQ rather than a phone call. For the wider documentation picture, see our guides on European road freight and the bill of lading explained.

FAQ

Is a CMR waybill mandatory for international road freight?

The CMR Convention applies automatically when pick-up and delivery are in different countries, so the consignment note is the expected proof of carriage. Its absence does not void the contract, but it removes your easiest evidence in a dispute.

Who signs the CMR?

The sender signs at loading (box 22), the carrier signs when taking over the goods (box 23), and the consignee signs on delivery (box 24). Each holds an original copy.

Is a CMR the same as a bill of lading?

No. Both evidence carriage, but the CMR is for international road freight and is not a document of title, while a sea bill of lading can transfer ownership of the goods.

What goes in box 18 of the CMR?

Box 18 holds the carrier's reservations — any visible damage, shortage or packaging defect noted at handover. Without a reservation, the goods are presumed received in good condition.