How to fill in a CMR: all 24 boxes
This guide walks through the 24 boxes of the widely used IRU 2007 model CMR consignment note: what to write, who fills it in and what to watch out for. The CMRyaz form uses the same numbering.
Before you start
- Fill in all copies identically (the IRU 2007 model has four coloured copies: red for the sender, blue for the consignee, green for the carrier, black for administrative use).
- Some details may be unknown when the note is made out (e.g. a successive carrier). They can be added later on the copies still available.
- The note number appears at the top right and bottom left; the country of issue is shown at the top.
- For the background to each particular, see what is a CMR consignment note?.
Boxes 1–9: parties, places and instructions
Sender
Filled in by: sender
Full name and complete address of the sender (consignor), including country — usually the seller on the invoice.
Consignee
Filled in by: sender
Full name and address of the consignee. If goods go to a different delivery address, put it in box 4.
Place and date of taking over the goods
Filled in by: carrier / sender
Place and date of loading. The IRU recommends that the carrier also records the vehicle’s arrival and departure times at the loading place — evidence for claiming waiting time if the sender keeps the truck standing.
Place of delivery of the goods
Filled in by: sender
Intended place of unloading (city, country, warehouse address if needed). Asking the sender to state the warehouse opening hours saves the driver an expensive wait outside them.
Sender’s instructions
Filled in by: sender
Instructions that may affect the carriage: customs procedures (e.g. where to clear), a ban on transhipment, insurance instructions and any other useful notes.
Carrier
Filled in by: carrier
Full name and address of the carrier, plus other references if applicable.
Successive carriers
Filled in by: successive carrier
Where several carriers perform the carriage in turn, the successive carrier fills this in when taking over the goods, dates and signs it, and records any reservations about the number of packages, marks and apparent condition. At minimum this must appear on the consignee’s copy and the administrative copy.
Carrier’s reservations and observations
Filled in by: carrier
Reservations on taking over the goods about the number of packages, their marks and numbers and the apparent condition of the packaging (e.g. “2 pallets — wrapping torn”, “unable to count”). According to the IRU these must be acknowledged by the sender to be valid. Without reservations the goods are presumed to have been taken over in apparent good condition (CMR Art. 9).
Documents handed to the carrier by the sender
Filled in by: sender
List of documents accompanying the goods: invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, A.TR / EUR.1, transit document, etc.
Boxes 10–15: description of the goods
Per the IRU, boxes 10–15 hold the usual description of the goods, including any special particulars required for dangerous goods under ADR. Put each item on its own line.
Marks and numbers / HS code
Filled in by: sender
Marks and numbers on the packages and, where customs needs it, the statistical (HS) code of the goods.
Number of packages
Filled in by: sender
Number of cartons, pallets or other packages per line. The carrier checks this on taking over.
Method of packing
Filled in by: sender
Pallet, carton, crate, bag, drum, etc.
Nature of the goods
Filled in by: sender
The usual commercial description (e.g. “cotton T-shirts”, “ceramic tiles”). For dangerous goods, the ADR description including UN number, class and packing group.
Gross weight (kg)
Filled in by: sender
Gross weight including packaging. The carrier’s liability limit is calculated per kilogram of gross weight, so accuracy matters. The CMRyaz form also has a net weight column.
Volume (m³)
Filled in by: sender
Volume of the load — important for freight calculation on light but bulky loads.
Boxes 16–20: agreements and payments
Special agreements
Filled in by: sender and carrier
Particular terms agreed between the parties: the declared value of the goods and the amount of special interest in delivery (both raise the liability limit), the agreed transit time, use of open unsheeted vehicles, pallet exchange, who is responsible for loading, stowing and unloading, ferry use, applicable jurisdiction, etc.
To be paid by
Filled in by: sender / carrier
Amounts of carriage charges, supplementary charges, customs duties and other charges, and whether the sender or the consignee pays them. The IRU strongly advises naming at least the paying party even if amounts are not shown, to avoid later disputes.
Other useful particulars
Filled in by: any party
Information useful to other parties or the authorities: truck and trailer plates, load capacity, net weight, the TIR Carnet or other customs document number, etc.
Cash on delivery
Filled in by: sender
Amount the carrier must collect from the consignee on delivery. Caution: if the carrier delivers without collecting it, the carrier may have to pay that amount to the sender itself (CMR Art. 21).
CMR Convention clause
Filled in by: pre-printed
The mandatory statement that the carriage is subject to the CMR Convention notwithstanding any clause to the contrary. It comes pre-printed and is not filled in.
Boxes 21–24: place of issue and signatures
Established in / on
Filled in by: issuer
Place and date where the consignment note is made out.
Signature or stamp of the sender
Filled in by: sender
Signature or stamp of the sender (the choice is the sender’s).
Signature or stamp of the carrier
Filled in by: carrier
Signature or stamp of the carrier, confirming it has taken over the goods.
Goods received
Filled in by: consignee
Consignee’s signature and stamp, place and date of delivery and, in particular, the vehicle’s arrival time and departure time after unloading — the basis for claiming waiting time if the consignee keeps the truck standing. Apparent damage is noted here as a reservation.
Common mistakes
- Copies filled in differently. A reservation missing from the consignee’s copy is of little use in a dispute.
- Taking over without reservations. If the carrier accepts visibly damaged or short goods without noting it, they are presumed taken over in good condition.
- Leaving “to be paid by” blank (box 17) — the most common cause of freight disputes.
- Estimating the gross weight. Both the liability limit and weight checks rely on it.
- No times recorded (boxes 3 and 24), making waiting-time claims hard.
- Forgetting cash on delivery (box 19), which can leave the carrier liable for the full amount.
Filling in a CMR online
The CMRyaz form asks for these 24 boxes in numbered sections and previews the result in the IRU 2007 layout exactly as it will print. You choose the document language separately (8 languages) and box titles print in that language. Saved senders, consignees and vehicles make the next note a matter of seconds, and document scanning can fill fields from an invoice or packing list. Create a free CMR.
Frequently asked questions
Who fills in the CMR form?
The sender provides the party details, description of the goods and instructions; in practice the carrier or a forwarder often completes the form. The carrier fills in boxes 6 and 8, a successive carrier box 7 and the consignee box 24.
Is a signature or a stamp required?
In the IRU 2007 model, boxes 22 and 23 take a signature or a stamp (the party’s choice); box 24 asks for the consignee’s signature and stamp.
How do I enter several goods items?
Use one line per item in boxes 10–15. If the items do not fit, give the detail in an attached packing list and refer to it in box 9.
Where does the CMR number go?
In the IRU 2007 model the number appears at the top right and bottom left of the form. CMRyaz numbers every note automatically.