1. 4th IRU-LAS-AULT SEMINAR SESSION IV – SECURING COMMERCIAL GOODS TRANSPORT AND INSURANCE CONTRACTS
Alexandria, 5 November 2012
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

2. Expected CMR benefits to transport operators, their clients and Authorities in the LAS region
Alexandria, 5 November 2012
Dr Amr Kabil Member of IRU Regional Committee for Africa
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

3. Actual contractual situation
International traffic amongst Arab countries:
No harmonised rules for contracts (consensual or formal)
No standard transport document
No definition of respective obligations of parties
No harmonised rules for claims
No harmonised rules for liability and indemnity
International carriers, shippers and consignees are dependent from a multitude of national legislations
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

4. Actual contractual situation
International traffic with countries Contracting Parties to CMR Convention:
CMR applies to every contract for the international carriage of goods by road between two different countries of which at least one is a contracting country
Theoritically, a transport from Egypt not CP to CMR to Jordan CP to CMR is governed by the CMR Convention
In practice, despite CMR benefits, it is ignored and contractual partners still apply different legal regimes
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

5. Actual contractual situation
Confusion
Unpredictability
Commercial and financial uncertainty
Overcost for insurance coverage
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

6. CMR benefits for transport operators and their clients:
Expected CMR benefits to transport operators, their clients and Authorities in the LAS region
CMR benefits for transport operators and their clients:
Transparency in the respective obligations and liabilities:
No need to define conditions for each contract
Only agree on specific requirements (price, special instructions)
Use of a standard transport document
Simplifies administration and controls
Harmonisation of competition conditions
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

7. CMR benefits for transport operators and their clients:
Expected CMR benefits to transport operators, their clients and Authorities in the LAS region
CMR benefits for transport operators and their clients:
Simplifies claims handling: Clear procedures and deadlines to respect
Facilitates the selection of competent Courts in case of claims
Avoids operators to handle different legal frameworks
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

8. CMR benefits for Authorities in the LAS region:
Expected CMR benefits to transport operators, their clients and Authorities in the LAS region
CMR benefits for Authorities in the LAS region:
Standard transport document facilitates control by Authorities
Easy identification of goods and parties
Simplifies claims handling and reduces number of Court cases
Increased competitiveness of the road transport industry
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

9. Conclusion
Members of the League of Arab States should join the CMR Convention to facilitate the development of Arab road transport and trade
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012

10.
(c) International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2012