Where Does CMR Apply? Countries, Routes and Practical Boundaries for Road Shipments

Knowing where the CMR Convention applies is essential for planning cross-border road shipments. The Convention is purposely international: it creates a common set of rules across many countries so that carriers and shippers don’t have to negotiate liability and documentation country by country. But it’s not universal and there are practical boundaries and exceptions that beginners should understand.

Basic territorial rule

The CMR applies when the place of taking over of the goods and the place designated for delivery are situated in the territories of two different countries and where those countries are parties to the CMR Convention. In simple terms: if a load is collected in Country A and delivered to Country B, and both countries recognize CMR, the road leg of that transport typically falls under CMR.

Which countries are covered?

Most European countries are contracting parties, and a number of states in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa have also joined. The Convention’s membership includes major road transport nations, which is one reason CMR is the default legal framework for international trucking in Europe and many adjacent regions. Since membership can change and new protocols like e-CMR add complexity, always check current lists of contracting parties before relying on CMR for a shipment.

When CMR applies to only part of a journey

Many international shipments are multimodal — they may include road, sea, rail or air segments. CMR does not automatically cover all segments of multimodal transport. Instead, CMR applies to the road leg(s) where goods are taken over and delivered by road. For example, if goods travel from a factory to a seaport by truck, then by sea to another country, and finally by truck to the final consignee, CMR normally governs the initial and final road legs, but not the sea leg. This division matters for insurance and claims: different legal frameworks may apply to different sections of the transit.

Voluntary application and contractual choice

Even when one or both countries are not contracting parties, parties to a contract of carriage can agree to apply CMR by contract. This voluntary adoption can be useful when businesses want a predictable, internationally recognized liability regime. However, practical enforcement and local legal interpretation may differ if national law conflicts with the Convention’s provisions, so legal advice is recommended when choosing to apply CMR voluntarily in non-contracting jurisdictions.

Domestic transport excluded

CMR is not intended for purely domestic road transport within a single country. If a carrier moves goods only from one city to another within the same national territory, national transport law applies rather than CMR. For businesses operating in several countries, this means you must understand when an international pickup/delivery triggers CMR vs when domestic rules apply.

Border crossings, transits and customs

The CMR waybill is often requested by customs and border authorities to verify transportation details, but it does not replace customs documentation such as transit declarations, export/import declarations, or permits for regulated goods. When planning routes that cross multiple customs territories, ensure you have both the CMR waybill and all required customs documents for each border crossing.

Practical examples

1. Pickup in France, delivery in Germany: CMR applies because both countries are contracting parties and the transport crosses an international border.
2. Pickup in Spain, sea leg to Morocco, final road leg in Morocco: The Spanish-to-Morocco sea passage is governed by sea carriage rules; the inland Moroccan leg is domestic unless the pickup and delivery are in different countries. If the road leg is only within Morocco, CMR does not apply to that domestic segment unless parties agree otherwise.
3. Pickup in Serbia, delivery in Italy with a road-sea-road mix: CMR covers the road legs connected to the international road carriage, and parties should confirm which segments are subject to CMR and which are governed by other conventions or national law.

Electronic CMR and cross-border acceptance

e-CMR removes the need for paper in many international road shipments, but it depends on legal recognition and technical systems across countries and carriers. Even in contracting states, track whether authorities and counterparties accept electronic consignment notes on your planned routes.

Checklist for beginners: Does CMR apply?

• Are the pickup and delivery in different countries? If no, CMR usually does not apply.
• Are those countries contracting parties to the CMR Convention? If yes, the Convention is likely applicable.
• Is there a road leg that is international in nature? If the road leg crosses borders, CMR will generally govern that leg.
• Have the parties contractually agreed to apply CMR even when countries are non-contracting? If yes, confirm how local law interacts with the Convention.
• Do you intend to use an e-CMR? Verify acceptance by all carriers, border authorities and counterparties along the route.

Understanding where CMR applies keeps cross-border shipments compliant and reduces surprises. When in doubt, ask the carrier or a legal advisor: confirming applicability before the goods move is far easier than sorting disputes after delivery.