CIM/SMGS
Common CIM/SMGS rail consignment note · Joint rail consignment note
Also known as: CIM · SMGS · CIM-SMGS · CIM SMGS
The CIM/SMGS note is one rail consignment note that works under two railway legal systems at once. It lets cargo cross from one system to the other without a new document at the border.
In plain words
International rail freight follows two main sets of rules. CIM is used in Europe, Türkiye and some other countries. SMGS is used mainly in Central Asia, the Caucasus, China and other parts of Asia. Each set has its own consignment note.
Where the two systems meet, the cargo used to need a new consignment note: the shipment was re-consigned under the other rules. This took time and could bring mistakes in the data.
The joint CIM/SMGS note is accepted as the consignment note under both sets of rules. The same document travels with the wagon or container for the whole trip, and each railway adds its own entries.
Like the CMR in road freight, the rail consignment note is not a document of title. It shows the contract of carriage and travels with the goods. Whether a joint note can be used depends on the railways and countries on the route, so ask your forwarder before you book.
Example from real shipping
A container of machine parts travels by rail from Kazakhstan to a buyer in İstanbul. On the way it passes from a railway that works under SMGS to one that works under CIM. With a joint CIM/SMGS note, the container keeps the same document across that border, and no new consignment note is needed there.
Related terms
- CMRA CMR is the standard transport document for international road freight. It shows that the carrier received the goods, and it travels with the truck.
- T1A T1 is a customs transit declaration. It lets goods travel through a customs territory under customs control, without paying import duties and taxes on the way.
- Transit timeTransit time is how long the cargo is expected to travel from the start point to the end point. It is an estimate, not a fixed promise.
- B/LA Bill of Lading (B/L) is the main document for sea freight. The carrier issues it when it takes the goods. It shows who can collect the goods at the destination.
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Request a QuoteThis glossary is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules, fees, and practice can differ by carrier, port, and country.