How to fill in a CMR consignment note (step-by-step)
How to fill in a CMR consignment note: the sender completes boxes 1-15, the carrier boxes 16-18, and the consignee signs box 24 on delivery.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
To fill in a CMR consignment note — the contract document for international road freight — the sender completes boxes 1 to 15, the carrier completes boxes 16 to 18, and each party signs (the sender in box 22, the carrier in box 23) before departure. The consignee signs box 24 on delivery.
CMR stands for the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, the treaty that governs cross-border road haulage. Read our full CMR document guide for the legal context and retention rules.
Who fills in which part of the CMR form?
The CMR note divides responsibility between three parties: the sender (shipper), the carrier, and the consignee.
First, the sender completes the opening section, boxes 1 to 5: their own name and address, the consignee's details, the place designated for delivery, the place and date of taking over the goods, and any documents attached. The sender then continues through boxes 6 to 15, recording the marks and numbers of packages, the number of packages, the method of packing, the nature of the goods, the gross weight, and the instructions for customs and other formalities. The sender confirms all of this by signing and stamping box 22.
Next, the carrier fills in boxes 16 to 18. Box 16 is the carrier's own name and address, box 17 identifies any successive carriers on a multi-leg route, and box 18 is the carrier's reservations field. Box 18 is critical: the carrier must record here any reservations about the apparent condition of the goods or their packaging. Accepting goods without noting reservations leaves the carrier presumed to have received them in good order, which shifts liability for later damage onto the carrier — a point the IRU's official guide emphasises. The carrier signs box 23 on taking over the goods.
Finally, the consignee signs box 24 at the point of delivery to confirm receipt, closing the transport contract.
What goes in each of the 24 CMR boxes?
The table below groups all 24 boxes by responsible party and purpose.
| CMR box group | Who fills it in and what goes there |
|---|---|
| Boxes 1-5 | Sender — sender name/address, consignee name/address, place of delivery, place and date of taking over, documents attached |
| Boxes 6-12 | Sender — marks and numbers, number of packages, method of packing, nature of goods, statistical number, gross weight, volume |
| Boxes 13-15 | Sender — customs and formalities instructions, payment instructions, cash on delivery |
| Boxes 16-19 | Carrier / agreed — carrier name and address, successive carriers, carrier reservations, special agreements |
| Boxes 20-24 | Charges and signatures — charges payable, place and date of issue, sender signature (22), carrier signature (23), consignee receipt (24) |
Box 13, which captures the sender's instructions for customs and other formalities, is the field most often left blank. An empty box 13 routinely causes clearance delays at border crossings on non-EU transit routes. The UNECE CMR Convention text makes clear that the sender bears responsibility for supplying all documents and information necessary for customs purposes.
Carriers can automate CMR data entry with a transport management system (TMS) , cutting manual entry time and reducing transcription errors across all 24 boxes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CMR consignment note mandatory for all EU road freight?
The CMR note is mandatory for international road freight contracts between countries that have ratified the CMR Convention, which covers all EU member states and many neighbouring countries. Purely domestic shipments are governed by national law and may not require a CMR, but any cross-border road consignment within the CMR area requires one.
What is box 18 on a CMR note used for?
Box 18 is the carrier's reservations field. Before accepting a consignment, the carrier records any visible defects in the goods or their packaging — damaged crating, wet cartons, missing seals, and so on. A carrier who signs box 23 without noting reservations in box 18 is presumed to have accepted the goods in good apparent condition, which directly affects liability for any damage claim on delivery.
Who is liable if a CMR is filled in incorrectly?
Liability depends on which party made the error. The sender is responsible for the accuracy of the information they supply in boxes 1 to 15; incorrect or missing data in those fields makes the sender liable for any resulting costs. The carrier is responsible for their own entries in boxes 16 to 18 and for verifying that the goods match what is declared before signing box 23.
Does an eCMR replace the paper CMR in the EU?
Yes, where both parties agree. The eCMR Additional Protocol — the 2008 Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention — entered into force in 2011 and had been ratified by 38 contracting states as of 2025, giving the electronic consignment note the same legal standing as the paper original. Carriers can store signed CMR copies digitally with the Logifie Driver Assistant app , which makes eCMR adoption simpler for operators already using a smartphone-based workflow.
Carriers that prefer to hand off the paperwork can request a freight quote from Logifie , and our team will manage the CMR documentation from the first box to the final signature.
