CMR road consignment note. What is it and why is it needed?

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An international driver must have appropriate qualifications to successfully deliver cargo and handle driving a large vehicle. If the license was obtained in Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus, it is necessary to prepare an additional package of important documents that grant the right to drive a vehicle. Among other things, there is a Code 95 certificate, which is issued to all active drivers working in the European Union. Mark’s truck driving school helps citizens of our country complete the course and find work in Poland. To use the company’s services, you need to submit an application and agree on training dates with managers. The course will feature instructors who will teach how to use a Tachograph, familiarize with road rules, and show what a CMR consignment note is.

Introduction to the concept

The Convention introduced the international CMR consignment note. This document certifies the conclusion of a contract between the customer and the carrier. The Convention does not require either of the contracting parties to draw up the document. Its absence, destruction, loss, or incorrect completion does not violate the rules because the transportation is carried out for profit. The Convention does not clearly specify who should prepare the bill of lading. Usually, it is prepared by the sender of the package. However, there are cases when the customer refuses to prepare the letter. Meanwhile, the carrier is interested in performing the trip using the bill of lading and having a written document that records and signs the contract terms. Thus, the carrier and the driver on their behalf should be able to fill out the CMR.

The Convention recommends preparing the consignment note in three original copies, of which:

the first copy (red) is given to the sender;
the second (blue) accompanies the package and is intended for the recipient;
the third (green) is kept by the carrier.

In both the European Union and Poland, an additional copy of the letter (white) is attached to the consignment note, which has no legal force and is used only for control or statistical purposes.

The goods receipt is issued for a batch of goods loaded onto one vehicle or intended for a specific recipient. Copies of the letter must be signed by the sender and the carrier. They can be printed or replaced with stamps if allowed by the laws of the country where the letter was issued.

What information should be included in the transport document

The data in the CMR consignment note should include:

place and date of issue;
name and address of the sender;
name and address of the carrier;
place and date of acceptance of goods for transportation and the intended point of their delivery;
name and address of the recipient;
generally accepted description of the nature of the goods and the packaging method;
number of pieces, their characteristics and numbers;
gross weight or quantity expressed in another way;
costs associated with transportation (freight, additional expenses, customs duties and others arising at the conclusion of the contract before delivery);
instructions necessary for customs and other formalities;
a statement that the transportation, regardless of any provisions to the contrary, is governed by the provisions of the CMR Convention.

The bill of lading is not only a document that provides the carrier with necessary data and information about the cargo, but also serves as proof of the conclusion of the transport contract.

The preparation of this document should not be neglected. A driver wishing to work legally in EU countries must comply with all requirements established by law.

CMR is an important transport document. Its presence proves that the goods transported by the driver are not contraband. CMR is also considered proof that the company has transported the goods and, therefore, has fulfilled the services for which it has undertaken obligations. With the document, the driver can protect himself from liability for exceeding the permissible total weight or illegal cargo.

Point 18

Although it is not the most important, it is worth the driver’s attention. In this place, he can write his feedback. Why do this?

Imagine a situation where you were not allowed to help with loading for some reason. You went on, but on the way, customs stops you and it turns out that you are carrying a full trailer of prohibited products. And the CMR says it’s chocolate bars. How can the situation develop? If you wrote in point 18 that you did not help with loading, you are not responsible for what is inside the trailer. However, if you didn’t do this, it’s quite possible that you will spend the next few years in not very pleasant places.

What to enter in point 18

Remember that you can enter your comments in any official language of the European Union or in your native language.

You can leave such phrases in the document:

Driver was absent during loading – unable to check the load.
Driver was not allowed to participate in loading – unable to check the cargo.
Driver was not admitted to loading operations – there was no opportunity to check the packages.
After loading the vehicle, it was not possible to check the weight at the warehouse.
The goods were damaged in such and such quantity during loading.

In this article, we have tried to outline the main issues related to the international consignment note, the so-called CMR. Every truck driver must correctly complete transport documents. Therefore, in our courses, we focus on Practical training on filling out the consignment note, correctly indicating the address and other details.

Notes

Countries that follow the Convention adhere to a standard form for CMR notes. The type depends on the transaction.

There are three types:

Goods shipment – this report is used to print CMR documents for commercial deliveries. For each, the report displays address data of the sender, forwarder, and consignee, as well as information about the shipped goods.
Shipping a return purchase.
Transfer Shipment for transport shipments. For each CMR document, the report displays address data for the place from where the goods are sent, the points where they are delivered, as well as information about the forwarder and the product.

The warehouse manager prints CMR notes for shipments. Then the goods are packed and handed over to the truck driver along with the consignment notes. The driver ensures that there is a CMR for each package. When goods are delivered to customers, the driver makes sure they leave signatures on the documents. They are transferred to the appropriate internal accounts receivable departments.

Accounts payable administrators receive signed CMR consignment notes along with the invoice for freight forwarding.

Services

Mark’s driving school, located in Poland, offers long-distance truck drivers from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus the opportunity to take the Code 95 course. The company’s advantage is that it not only provides training but also assists with employment. The head of the school has been in this country for a long time and understands how many local organizations need professionals who see long-distance driving as their calling.

To help both sides, the school has undertaken the organization of legal courses. Obtaining Code 95 is done on a legal basis. This is important because a person who does not live in Poland can easily fall into the hands of fraudsters. Having paid for the certificate, truck drivers often find out that it’s a fake only when meeting with the police. It’s not worth looking for driving schools that offer suspiciously low training costs.

What to expect:

Assistance in document preparation. We will send an invitation so that you can easily obtain a work visa.
We provide accommodation during the training period.
Completion of a long or short course at a reasonable cost.
Being in a Russian-speaking team. It’s not necessary to know Polish.
Issuance of a legally valid certificate.
Passing a medical commission and Psychological test.

Our services are suitable for professionals and beginners. It should be noted that if you are not yet 21 years old, you will have to take a long training course, which is higher in time and cost than usual.