Documentation for international road transport
Guide to mandatory documents for international road freight in Europe: CMR, delivery note, invoice, packing list and certificates.
Why documentation matters
A shipment without correct documentation risks roadside inspection stops, border blockages and fines. Even between EU countries, where there are no customs duties, transport documentation is mandatory and subject to checks.
Each document has a specific function: it identifies the goods, establishes responsibilities, regulates the transport contract and allows fiscal controls. Italfrance handles all documentation on behalf of its clients.
International consignment note (CMR)
The CMR (Convention relative au contrat de transport international de Marchandises par Route) is the main document for every international road shipment. It is required by law when goods travel between two different countries.
The CMR specifies: sender, recipient, carrier, nature of goods, weight, number of packages, collection and delivery points. It also serves as proof of the transport contract and as the basis for claims in case of damage.
- Mandatory for all international road shipments
- Completed in at least 3 copies: sender, recipient, carrier
- Must accompany the goods throughout the entire transport
- Legal basis for claims in case of damage or loss
Delivery note (DDT)
The DDT (Documento di Trasporto) is the Italian fiscal document that accompanies goods from sender to recipient. It specifies the transport reason (sale, processing, return, etc.), sender and recipient data, goods description and quantities.
For international shipments, the DDT is issued by the Italian sender and travels together with the CMR. It does not replace the CMR but supplements it with the fiscal information required by Italian regulations.
Commercial invoice and packing list
The commercial invoice is required for all goods with commercial value. It indicates the goods value, sales conditions (Incoterms), and fiscal data of sender and recipient.
The packing list is the detailed inventory of the shipment contents: number of packages, weight per package, dimensions, content description. In case of a roadside check, the packing list allows quick verification of correspondence between documents and actual cargo.
Specific certificates by goods type
Some goods require additional documentation. Food products need health certificates and, for those of animal origin, the TRACES document (Trade Control and Expert System). Plants and plant products require a phytosanitary certificate.
Dangerous goods (ADR) require specific documentation: safety data sheet, sender declaration, ADR certification for the driver and vehicle. Italfrance does not transport ADR dangerous goods.
- Food products: health certificate, TRACES if applicable
- Plant products: phytosanitary certificate
- Building materials: CE conformity declaration if required
- Used machinery: conformity or non-hazard declaration
Italfrance document management
Italfrance S.r.l. handles the entire transport documentation on behalf of the client. We complete the CMR, verify delivery notes and invoices, check packing list completeness and flag any missing documents before departure.
This service is included in every shipment, both groupage and FTL. For information: +39 348 331 4224 or italfrance.srl@libero.it.