International transport
CMR and e-CMR. How do you document carriage?
What the sender, carrier and consignee should agree before the goods leave.
The contract and evidence of carriage
Where the CMR Convention applies, the consignment note confirms the carriage contract. Its absence, irregularity or loss does not invalidate that contract. Agree who records the condition of the goods and any reservations, and when.
Moving to e-CMR
Before switching to electronic consignment notes, check the protocol’s status for the route and confirm that all participants can use the document. Test signatures, corrections, delivery confirmation and access to the record after completion.
Damage or delay
Decide who receives an incident report, where photos and records go and who monitors deadlines. Reconstruct one delivery from order to receipt. Check whether the record shows when the goods were handed over and to whom.