What is a Bill of Lading?
A bill of lading is a legal form that shows the acceptance of a shipment of goods or products. It is also known as a receipt or proof of shipped goods with agreed upon terms and conditions for the transportation. It provides evidence of goods carriage, receipt of goods and documentation of legal title of the goods. This document must be issued with shipped products whether international or domestic shipping as it helps to ensure that the shipment process is properly documented. It ensures the goods are tracked from their origin to their final destination. The bill of lading is issued when the goods are loaded on the the freight vessel, whether it is a truck, ship, train or airplane.
The most common types of a bill of lading include:
- Inland bill of lading – issued for overland transportation of goods or products
- Ocean bill of lading – issued for transportation of goods overseas across bodies of water
- Through bill of lading – issued for the transportation of goods or products domestically and exporting internationally
- Straight/Seaway bill of lading – most commonly used when goods are shipped to the same destination without additional shipments.
- Air way bill of lading – issued by airlines for transporting goods or products.
- Bearer bill of lading – shows that a carrier or shippers received goods
- Charter party bill of lading – agreement between charter and vessel owner for goods or products shipped.
- Rail way bill – issued when goods or products are transported by train.
Who Issues a Bill of Lading?
The bill of lading forms are issued by the carrier to a shipper . The carrier may be a shipping or freight company that arranges transportation on behalf of the shipper. Issuing a bill of lading means the carrier company has taken control of the goods being shipped. In other words, the shipper has given the carrier the goods by either loading them onto a truck, ship, train or airplane.
What does a Bill of Lading Include?
A bill of lading includes names and addresses of both the shipper and carrier, shipment date, quantity and weight of goods, their value and the method of transportation. It should also include a description of the items being shipped and instructions for the carrier.
We offer two types of bills of lading: stock, also known as standardized, or custom. A stock bill of lading is predesigned, ready-made and has a standard format that documents and tracks shipments, typically including fields such as the shipper’s and transportation company’s details, description of the goods, quantity, and shipping terms. A custom bill of lading is tailored to meet business needs and allows them to track and manage shipments better and can include additional information like special handling instructions, unique identifiers, or unique terms and conditions for the shipment.