Consignor vs consignee: what is the difference in road freight?
A consignor sends goods and holds the right of disposal; the consignee receives them with delivery rights under CMR Convention Articles 12-13.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
The consignor is the sender who hands goods to the carrier and, under Article 12 of the CMR Convention, keeps the right to redirect them until the consignee receives the second consignment-note copy; the consignee is the party named to receive the goods and gains an independent right to claim delivery on arrival.
What does a consignor do on a road freight shipment?
The consignor, also called the sender or shipper, books the transport, hands the goods to the carrier, and completes box 1 of the CMR consignment note. By default it holds the right of disposal too: it can stop goods in transit or fill in a CMR consignment note naming a different consignee. That right is not permanent - under Article 12, it ends once the second copy reaches the named consignee.
What rights does a consignee have under the CMR Convention?
The consignee is named in box 2 of the consignment note. Under Article 13 of the CMR Convention , once goods arrive at the agreed point, the consignee can require the carrier to hand over the second copy and the goods, against a receipt - a right held independently of the consignor, and covered further when comparing the CMR note against a bill of lading . If the consignee refuses the goods, disposal reverts to the consignor.
| Consignor (sender) | Consignee (receiver) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who they are | Party handing goods to the carrier | Party named to receive the goods |
| Right of disposal | Holds right of disposal until the second CMR copy reaches the consignee (Article 12) | Gains an independent right to claim delivery once goods arrive (Article 13) |
| When rights begin | Rights begin when the transport is booked | Rights begin on arrival, or earlier if named as disposal party |
| CMR note box | Recorded in box 1 of the CMR note | Recorded in box 2 of the CMR note |
| Who is billed | Usually billed for freight per the contract or Incoterms | May be billed if terms shift freight cost to the receiver |
Who is liable if goods are lost or damaged in transit?
Liability for loss or damage sits with the carrier under the CMR Convention, not the consignor or consignee, though either can pursue a claim depending on who held the rights at the time. This is why dispatch teams track consignor and consignee data per shipment inside a transport management system rather than relying on paper CMR notes. The Convention remains the default framework for cross-border road freight in Europe: as of 2026, UNECE records 58 contracting states applying it, seven decades after it was signed.
Frequently asked questions
Can the consignor change the delivery address after the truck has left?
Yes. Under Article 12 of the CMR Convention, the consignor can redirect goods, change the delivery place, or name a new consignee at any point until the second copy of the consignment note is handed to the original consignee, at which point disposal passes to the consignee.
Does the consignee have to be the same as the buyer of the goods?
No. The consignee is simply the party named in the consignment note to take delivery, often the buyer but sometimes a warehouse, distribution centre, or logistics provider acting on the buyer's behalf. The CMR Convention defines the consignee's rights over the goods, not the underlying sales contract.
Who pays the freight charges, the consignor or the consignee?
It depends on the commercial terms agreed for the shipment, typically set by Incoterms or the sales contract. The consignor usually pays the carrier directly, but Article 13 allows a carrier to require the consignee to pay outstanding charges on the consignment note before releasing the goods, if the consignee claims delivery.
What happens if the consignee refuses to accept the delivery?
The right of disposal reverts to the consignor, who can redirect or reclaim the shipment without producing the first copy of the consignment note. The consignee can still change its mind and demand delivery later, as long as the carrier has not already received contrary instructions from the consignor.
Shippers acting as consignor on a European road shipment can get a freight quote to book the movement and keep disposal rights until delivery is confirmed.
