CMR Convention
The CMR Convention, the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, sets uniform rules for consignment notes and carrier liability when goods move by road for payment between two countries, at least one of them a party.
What it requires
Signed in Geneva on May 19, 1956 and in force since July 2, 1961, CMR applies to paid road carriage when the places of taking over and delivery are in different countries and at least one is a contracting state. It calls for a consignment note, makes the carrier liable for loss, damage and delay, and caps compensation at 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight unless value is declared. Claims expire after one year, or three for wilful misconduct. A 2008 protocol allows e-CMR notes. It has 58 parties.
Why it matters
CMR governs most cross-border truck shipments in Europe, including stock transfers between fulfillment centers in different countries, so it sets how much a shipper can recover for losses. The 8.33 SDR limit, about $11 per kilogram, means a lost 300-kilogram pallet of electronics worth $40,000 yields roughly $3,400. For example, a 3PL moving returns from France to a Dutch hub should note visible damage on the CMR note at delivery and send written reservations within seven days for hidden damage. Using e-CMR speeds proof of delivery where both countries accept it.
Related laws
Sources
Not legal advice.