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Convention

CMR Convention (1956)

12 July 2026 · EN · NL · DE · FR

Summary

The CMR Convention (Geneva, 1956) governs the contract of carriage for international road transport of goods. It standardises the consignment note, fixes the carrier's liability between takeover and delivery (with a compensation cap per kilogram), and sets strict claim and limitation periods. It applies automatically whenever the place of takeover and the place of delivery are in two different countries of which at least one is a CMR party, regardless of what the contract says.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the CMR Convention?

The CMR Convention, signed in Geneva in 1956, is the international legal framework governing contracts for the carriage of goods by road across borders. It standardises the consignment note used for shipments, defines the carrier's liability for loss or damage between takeover and delivery, and sets a compensation cap per kilogram along with strict deadlines for claims and legal action.

When does CMR apply to a shipment?

CMR applies automatically whenever the place where goods are taken over and the place of delivery are located in two different countries, provided at least one of them is a CMR party state. This happens regardless of what the transport contract itself states, meaning parties cannot simply choose to avoid it by agreement.

What are the carrier's main obligations under CMR?

The carrier is liable for loss, damage or delay to goods occurring between the moment of takeover and the moment of delivery. Compensation for such loss or damage is capped at a fixed amount per kilogram of gross weight, and the convention also standardises the consignment note used to document the shipment.

Can the parties override CMR rules by contract?

No. CMR applies automatically based on the geographic conditions of the shipment, that is, takeover and delivery in two different countries with at least one being a CMR party. The convention's rules take precedence over conflicting contract terms, so the parties cannot contract out of its core liability and procedural rules.

Official sources