CMR Convention

The CMR Convention is an international treaty on the contract for the international carriage of goods by road. The CMR stands for:  “Convention relative au Contract de Transport International de Marchandises par Route”, it was drawn up by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and has been in force since 1956. It determines the rights and obligations of the parties to an international road transport contract.

What does the treaty apply to?

The CMR automatically applies to international road transport. The CMR can also be declared applicable to transport contracts within the Netherlands. The treaty aims to regulate and protect the legal position of the carrier and the principal of the transport.

What does the treaty say?

The treaty stipulates the following points, among others:

  • The carrier is obliged to deliver the goods at the agreed time and place;
  • The carrier is responsible for the transport of the goods and must ensure safe transport. If the goods are lost, damaged or delayed, the carrier is liable for the damage, unless he can prove that this was beyond his control;
  • The principal is obliged to deliver the goods on time and at the right place and must provide the carrier with all necessary information, such as the weight and dimensions of the goods;
  • The principal must ensure the correct documentation, such as consignment notes and customs documents;
  • The carrier must draw up a consignment note for each transport. The consignment note is an important document that contains information about the goods, the weight, the dimensions, the sender and the recipient. It is a legal document that serves as evidence of the agreement between the carrier and the principal.

CMR Convention and Liability

If a dispute arises between the carrier and the principal, the CMR Convention can serve as a guideline for resolving the dispute. The Convention stipulates that disputes must be settled by arbitration, unless the parties agree otherwise. The CMR is mandatory in nature, which means that the transport agreement cannot be contractually deviated from the CMR.

For national road transport, the General Transport Conditions apply.

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