What is Road Transport & CMR?
CMR insurance is a carrier's liability insurance covering the legal liability of an international road haulier under the CMR Convention for loss of, damage to or delay in delivery of the goods carried.
The CMR Convention governs the carrier's liability in international road transport between contracting states. Liability is limited to 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight of the lost or damaged goods; for delay, it may not exceed the carriage charges.
CMR insurance pays, on the carrier's behalf, the compensation owed to the cargo owner for loss or damage occurring while the goods are in the carrier's charge. The policy is arranged according to the number of vehicles, types of goods, routes and annual number of trips.
What is covered?
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Loss of and damage to goods
Goods in the carrier's charge lost or damaged due to accidents, theft and other causes.
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Delay liability
Compensation for delay in delivery, limited to the carriage charges.
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Legal defence
Costs of legal proceedings in defending claims.
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Salvage and mitigation
Reasonable costs to prevent the loss from increasing.
Optional extensions
- Refrigeration unit breakdown for reefer cargo
- Trailer interchange cover
- Liability for customs duties and charges
- Combined policy with domestic carrier's liability
Who is it for?
- International road haulage companies
- Manufacturers carrying goods abroad with their own vehicles
- Groupage (LTL) and full-truckload carriers
- Reefer and dangerous goods carriers
Information needed for a quote
Sharing the following information lets us obtain fast and accurate quotes from several insurers.
- Vehicle list (plate, model year)
- Types of goods carried
- Routes and annual number of trips
- Transport licence details
- Claims history for the last 3 years
Frequently asked questions
Does CMR insurance protect the cargo owner?
Indirectly, but compensation is limited to the carrier's legal liability and the CMR limits. Cargo owners who want the full value protected should also take out cargo insurance.
What does the 8.33 SDR limit mean?
The SDR (Special Drawing Right) is a unit of account defined by the IMF. The carrier's liability is limited to 8.33 SDR per gross kilogram of lost or damaged goods; for high-value, light goods this can be far below their actual value.
Is damage caused by the driver's carelessness covered?
Under CMR the carrier is liable for the acts of its employees, so cargo damage caused by driver fault is covered subject to policy conditions. Special rules apply in cases of wilful misconduct.
Scope of cover and limits are determined by the general and special conditions of the issuing insurer.