Based on the conditions of this type of insurance, civil responsibilities of international transport companies are insured according to C.M.R. convention. This type of insurance policy was introduced by foreign insurers and a remarkable amount of foreign currency was deprived from the company.

Bimeh Iran, consequently, implemented this insurance plan based on the Iranian currency in 1987, in line with the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and insured all the international transport companies of the country, proving that its quality was even better than the foreign insurance policies.

What is CMR insurance?

In simple words, the CMR insurance is a specific insurance cover that enables couriers and hauliers to carry cargo legally within European nations. The coverage ensures that the involved cargo carriers are in compliance with CMR convention. It must be noted here, that CMR insurance applies to delivery of cargo by the road-in-vehicles. According to EU law, the goods carriers would have to produce the CMR consignment proof at the customs & while unloading.

When does it apply?

The CMR insurance would apply when-

The carriage of cargo would be by road & the cargo would be on the road wheels all through the period of transit.
The carriage of goods would for reward or for hire
The transit would be between minimum two nations where one of them is a signatory of CMR convention.

Where does it not apply?

The CMR insurance would not apply for:

Furniture removals
Funeral consignments
Personal goods
Sending post

CMR Note

The CMR Note is an important part of the said insurance policy. There would be 4 copies of the note. One would be with the trader, the other with the carrier, the 3rd would travel with merchandise & the last one is the important administration copy. The carrier would be held liable for damage, delay or loss of consignment till its delivered whilst the trader would be accountable for damage or los carrier faces given incorrect details in CMR note. The major points in a CMR note would be:

Place & date of completion of CMR note

Name & address of the sender, carrier & consignee.
Description of merchandise & packing method- which must be agreed upon by both consignor & consignee.
Weight of the merchandise.
Additional charges like carriage charge or custom duties
Directions for customs & other formalities (if any) such as prior information for dangerous goods.

Who would need it & your liability

Well, you would need CMR insurance if you have to carry cargo within Europe. The insurance would be concluded within 1 month to 1 year. The very object of this special insurance policy is to address the liability of transporters involved in the transit of goods. Article 17 and Article 23 of the CMR convention have discussed about the liability of the transporter regarding the transport of merchandise and any issue here would be covered by the insurance policy.

Why take CMR insurance?

Yes, it’s a legal requirement to take to CMR insurance but the carriers & hauliers would also need it for their own good. Transport of cargo on the road wheels all through the period of transit is a complex process & does carry risks of damage or loss or theft of the goods. If you have to face any such unfortunate circumstance as a carrier, you have to bear the burden which could be a heavy blow in terms of monetary compensation. Besides, although the CMR convention relieves the carriers or hauliers from the liability of compensation in case there is a damage or loss of goods due to unavoidable circumstances yet it’s not always that easy to prove that the consequences were unavoidable for you. The topic has been under strong debate for years now and if you look at the reports, most of the times carriers upholding the said defence have failed to prove their point in court. The CMR insurance here will assure you the desired peace of mind by ensuring that you have the necessary backup to compensate for the possible mishaps on the way.

There are several CMR insurance companies around but you must make sure to carry a comparative study prior to choosing the final one for you. The one you take to should be a highly reputed name in the market, backed by a long list of satisfied clientele.