CMR generator
Issuing CMRs every week? Nucra keeps your companies, numbers each consignment note, links it to the order and the invoice and signs it electronically (e-CMR). nucra.io
What is a CMR consignment note?
The CMR is the international consignment note for the carriage of goods by road. Its name comes from the CMR Convention (Geneva, 1956), to which Bulgaria is a party. The document proves that the carrier has taken over the goods, describes what is being carried, from where, to where and on what terms, and defines the liability of the sender, the carrier and the consignee. Without a CMR there is effectively no contract of international carriage – which is why the document travels with the truck and is signed at loading and at delivery.
Who fills in the CMR and in how many copies?
Under the Convention the CMR is drawn up by the sender, but in practice it is usually completed by the freight forwarder or the carrier from the sender’s data. The standard set has 4 copies: red for the sender, blue for the consignee, green for the carrier and black for administration/customs. The generator above produces all four in one PDF, ready to print on A4.
How to fill in a CMR – box by box
| Box | What goes in |
|---|---|
| 1. Sender | Company, address and country of the sender. For an EU company – the VAT number as well (the generator checks it in VIES). |
| 2. Consignee | Company, address and country of the receiver of the goods. |
| 3. Place of delivery | The exact address where the goods are delivered, if different from the consignee’s address. |
| 4. Place and date of taking over | Where and on which date the carrier takes over the goods. |
| 5. Documents attached | Invoice, packing list, certificates, customs documents (T1, EUR.1 etc.). |
| 6–12. Description of the goods | Marks and numbers, number of packages, method of packing (pallets, cartons, crates), nature of the goods, statistical (HS) number, gross weight in kg and volume in m³. For dangerous goods – the ADR class as well. |
| 13. Sender’s instructions | Special requirements: temperature, customs clearance, no transhipment, delivery deadline. |
| 14. Payment terms | ”Franco” (paid by the sender) or “Non-franco” (paid by the consignee). |
| 15. Cash on delivery | Amount the carrier must collect on delivery – rarely used. |
| 16. Carrier | Company, address and VAT number of the carrier. The registration numbers of the truck and trailer go here too. |
| 17. Successive carriers | If the goods are transhipped en route – the details of the next carrier. |
| 18. Carrier’s reservations | Condition of the goods and packaging on taking over. If left empty, the goods are deemed accepted without reservations. |
| 19. Special agreements | Additional arrangements between the parties. |
| 20. Charges | Carriage charges, supplements, customs duties and other costs – and who pays them. |
| 21. Established in / date | City and date of issue of the consignment note. |
| 22. Sender – signature and stamp | Signed at loading. |
| 23. Carrier – signature and stamp | Signed by the driver or the carrier on taking over the goods. |
| 24. Consignee – signature and stamp | Completed on delivery: date, time, signature and stamp. This is where the consignee notes any shortages or damage. |
The most common CMR mistakes
- Empty box 18. If the driver does not note damaged packaging or a difference in quantity, the carrier is liable for the goods “as described”.
- Missing weight or package count. In case of damage or loss there is no basis for a claim.
- Different addresses in boxes 2 and 3 without clarification – the truck goes to the wrong place.
- Unsigned box 24. Without the consignee’s signature and date there is no proof of delivery, and the freight invoice is often disputed.
- Handwritten, illegible CMR. The generated PDF is legible, identical on all four copies and kept as a file.
What you need to know about e-CMR
The electronic CMR (e-CMR) is a digital version of the traditional consignment note that makes the transport process easier and faster. By generating the CMR automatically you save time, reduce errors when filling it in and improve the traceability of your loads.
Easy to create and share – the document is ready in seconds and available to everyone involved in the transport. No lost documents – everything is stored in a secure digital format. Faster loading and unloading – less paperwork. e-CMR is already accepted across a number of European states, and from 2027 the EU eFTI regulation obliges authorities to accept transport information electronically.
❗ Check the entered data carefully before finalising! If you have questions or need assistance, our team is at your disposal. If you also need a carrier for the load – request a quote.