1 The CMRfootnote note (Road transport)
The CMR note is the consignment note through which the CMR Convention is applied to
international road haulage when at least one of the countries is a Contracting
Country to the Convention. There are only a very few specific exemptions. Existence
of the CMR note confirms that the carrier (i.e. the transport company) has received
the goods and that a contract of carriage exists between the consignor/trader and
the carrier. If CMR applies to a contract it provides all parties to the contract
with the complete regime for the determination of their rights, obligations,
liabilities and remedies, in respect of claims for loss, damage or delay to the
goods. Unlike a bill of lading, a CMR is not a document of title or a declaration,
although some States regard it as such. It does not necessarily give its holder
and/or the carrier rights of ownership or possession of the goods, which will be
decided by the courts on a case–by–case basis.
Figure 2.1 – CMR
example
|
2 Forwarders Certificate of Receipt (FCR) (all modes of transport)
2.1 The Forwarders Certificate of Receipt (FCR) was introduced for the use of
international freight forwarders. The FCR document enables the freight forwarder to
provide the consignor with a special document as an official acknowledgement that he
has assumed responsibility of the goods.
2.2 By completing the FCR, the freight forwarder certifies that he is in possession
of a specific consignment with irrevocable instructions for despatch to the
consignee shown in the document or for keeping it at his disposal. These
instructions may only be cancelled if the original FCR document is handed over to
the issuing freight forwarder and only if he is in a position to comply with such
cancellation or alteration.
2.3 The FCR will primarily be used when the supplier sells the goods ex-works and
needs to prove that he has complied with his obligations to the buyer by presenting
a FCR. In the case of a Letter of Credit; the seller will, under such conditions, be
able to present a FCR issued by a forwarder in order to obtain payment of the sales
price placed at his disposal by the buyer under the terms of the Letter of Credit.
The seller can no longer dispose of goods handed over to the forwarder once the FCR
document has been handed
2.4 The FCR is not a negotiable document. As the delivery of the consignment to the
consignee does not depend on the handing over of this document, only one original is
issued. Should further copies be required, forms specially overprinted with the
words "Copy not negotiable" should be used.
2.5 Another similar document, the Forwarders' Certificate of Transport (FCT), is
negotiable. This means that the forwarder accepts responsibility to deliver to a
destination specified – not to an unchangeable destination as with the FCR.
Figure 2.2 – FCR
example
|
3 CIMfootnote consignment note (Rail transport)
3.1 This document confirms that the rail carrier has received the goods and that a
contract of carriage exists between trader and carrier.
3.2 Unlike a bill of lading, a CIM note is not a document of title. It does not give
its holder rights of ownership or possession of the goods.
3.3 Key details to be provided in the note include:
-
.1 a description of the goods;
-
.2 the number of packages and their weight; and
-
.3 the names and addresses of the sender and recipient.
3.4 The consignor is responsible for the accuracy of CIM notes, and is liable for any
loss or damage suffered by the carrier due to inaccurate information. Notes are used
to calculate compensation if goods are lost or damaged.
Figure 2.3 – CIM
example
|
4 Export Cargo Shipping Instruction (ECSI) (Sea transport)
This document may be used to provide the shipping company with details of the goods
and set out any specific instructions for the shipment. It follows up on the initial
booking, when space will have been confirmed on particular sailings.
Figure 2.4 – ECSI
example
|
5 Dangerous Goods Transport Document (Sea transport)
5.1 If however, the goods are considered to be dangerous as per the IMDG Code, a
Dangerous Goods Transport Document will be required. In some countries, this
document is also known as Dangerous Goods Note (DGN).
5.2 The Dangerous Goods Transport Document contains a section "Container/vehicle
packing certificate". This section must be completed by the person responsible for
packing of the dangerous goods into the CTU, who may not necessarily be a
representative of the shipper or consignor.
Figure 2.5 – DGN
example
|
6 Bill of Lading (BL) (Sea transport)
The Bill of Lading (BL) is issued by the carrier and serves three purposes:
-
.1 it shows that the carrier has received the goods;
-
.2 it provides evidence of a contract of carriage; and
-
.3 it serves as a document of title to the goods.
Figure 2.6 – BL
example
|
7 Multimodal bill of lading
7.1 Increasingly, international trade journeys are intermodal, with freight
forwarders playing a crucial coordinating role. Many multimodal transports are
handled with such a document.
7.2 The Negotiable FIATAfootnote Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading (FBL) is a
carrier–type transport document for the use by freight forwarders acting as
Multimodal Transport Operators (MTO).
7.3 A freight forwarder acting as MTO issuing a FBL is responsible for the
performance of transport. The freight forwarder does not only assume responsibility
for delivery of the goods at the destination, but also for all carriers and third
parties engaged by him for the performance of the whole transport.
8 Sea waybill (SWB) (Sea transport)
This fulfils the same practical functions as the bill of lading, but does not confer
title to the goods and is, therefore, quicker and easier to use. It is often used
where there is a well–established trading relationship between commercial parties or
in transactions where ownership does not change hands, e.g. between divisions of a
single company.
Figure 2.7 – SWB
example
|