Road transport waybill

Published by:

Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO

1 min read

Do you work in the road haulage industry? You need a euro licence for national and international transport. You also need to carry a road transport waybill (road consignment note), although there are some exceptions. A road transport waybill is an agreement about the freight between sender and carrier.

Drawing up a waybill

A road transport waybill should contain at least:

the origin of the freight (consignor)
who performs the transport (carrier)
where the freight is to be delivered (recipient or addressee)
what the freight consists of
the gross weight or amount of the shipment

In a number of countries you may use a digital waybill (eCMR). In other countries the driver is required to carry a paper copy of the waybill.

CMR consignment note

Do you want to transport goods from, through, or to a country that has signed the CMR Treaty? You will need a CMR consignment note. CMR stands for the Convention on the contract for the international carriage of goods by road. The CMR Treaty regulates the liability of the transporter for damage to the freight. The CMR Treaty is recognised in Europe, and a number of countries in the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa.

Signing a waybill

Both the consignor and the carrier can draw up a waybill and ask the other party to sign. Each party receives a copy after signing. A signed waybill is a document you can use as legal evidence in potential claims for damages.

Inspecting a waybill and freight

Upon delivery, you must verify ( in Dutch) if the information in the waybill is correct. For instance, the number of packages, the brand, and the serial numbers. You also need to inspect the external condition of the freight for any possible damage.