A consignment note is the documentation that accompanies road freight, recording the details of the goods being transported, the sender, the recipient, the carrier and the terms of carriage. In UK domestic road haulage it functions as a contract between the sender and the carrier and as a receipt for the goods. For international road freight it takes the form of a CMR note, governed by the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road. Consignment notes are separate from sales invoices and from proof of delivery documents, though in modern logistics operations all three are increasingly managed through integrated digital systems connected to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
How consignment notes connect to Business Central
In a connected logistics operation, the consignment note is generated by the transport management or route planning system when a despatch is scheduled. The consignment note reference is linked to the sales shipment record in Business Central, providing a cross-reference between the financial record and the transport document. Electronic consignment note systems transmit the document to the carrier and the recipient digitally, and the signed confirmation can flow back as an electronic proof of delivery. Power Automate can automate the link between consignment note creation and the corresponding Business Central shipment record.
Consignment notes in practice
- A UK haulier generates electronic consignment notes from its route management system and links them to posted sales shipments in Business Central, giving the finance team an auditable record for each delivery without paper document management.
- A distributor uses CMR notes for cross-border deliveries into the EU, with the CMR reference stored against the sales order in Business Central to support customs and VAT documentation requirements.
- A logistics manager uses consignment note data to investigate a freight damage claim, retrieving the note to confirm the declared condition of goods at collection and comparing this with the ePOD record at delivery.
- A compliance team reviews consignment note archives in Business Central to demonstrate to a customer's auditors that all deliveries over a 12-month period have full transport documentation.
How Advantage supports transport documentation integration
Advantage integrates transport management and route planning systems with Business Central, connecting consignment note references, despatch records and delivery confirmation into a single auditable workflow. For businesses handling international freight, we configure the document and posting structures to support CMR and customs documentation requirements alongside the financial records in Business Central.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about consignment notes for UK road haulage and international freight.
Is a consignment note the same as a bill of lading?
No. A bill of lading is a maritime document used for sea freight that serves as a receipt, a contract of carriage and a document of title. A consignment note (also called a CMR note for international road freight) is used for road transport and is a contract of carriage and receipt but not a document of title. For UK domestic road freight, the standard consignment note is not governed by an international convention but serves the same documentary function.
What information does a consignment note include?
A UK road freight consignment note typically records the sender and receiver details, the collection and delivery address, a description of the goods, the number and type of packages, gross weight, any special handling instructions, the carrier's name, the vehicle registration and the date. For international road freight, the CMR note includes additional fields required by the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road.
How do logistics businesses manage consignment notes electronically?
Electronic consignment notes replace paper documents with digital records created in the transport management or route management system. These can be integrated with Business Central via API so that despatch records in Business Central carry a reference to the electronic consignment note, providing an auditable link between the financial record and the transport document without manual filing.
