Bill Of Lading

If we search the meaning of the “Bill”, it is defined as a printed or written statement of the cost for goods or services delivered or to be delivered. The term “Lade” means to put the cargo onto a ship or other forms of goods carrier.

Thus, a bill of lading in shipping is a record of the traded goods which have been received on board. It is a document that establishes an agreement between a shipper and a transportation company for the transportation goods. Transportation Company (carrier) issues these records to the shipper.

What’s in a Bill of Lading?

• Names and addresses
• Purchase order or special reference numbers
• Special instructions
• Date
• Description of items
• Packaging type
• NMFC Freight Class
• Department of Transportation hazardous material designation

There are also different types of Bill of lading like Clean B/L, Received for Shipment B/L, Through B/L, Crossed B/L, etc.

The bill of lading is considered to be a “Legal Document” which provides all the vital details to the shipper and the carrier to conveniently process the freight shipment through different maritime countries and invoice it correctly.

The original copy of the bill of lading is provided to the carrier and a copy of the same should also be ascribed to the packaged freight.

With the modernisation the shipping industry as a whole, the bill of lading is also modernised to the electronic bill of lading to solve the issues occurring while using a paper bill of lading.