A Bill of Lading (BOL) is a transport document issued for a shipment that identifies the goods, the shipper, the consignee, and the basic terms under which cargo is received and moved. In international shipping, it often serves as evidence that the carrier took possession of the freight and describes how the shipment should be handled.
What it does
The BOL is used differently depending on the shipment and mode of transport. For ocean freight, it can also function as a document of title, meaning possession of the original document may affect who can claim the cargo. For trucking and many air shipments, it more commonly acts as a receipt and instructions record rather than a title document.
Shippers, freight forwarders, carriers, and consignees all rely on the information on the BOL to match cargo, routing, and delivery details. It typically includes the shipper and consignee names, origin and destination, description of the freight, packaging count, and any special handling instructions. Errors can slow customs clearance, billing, or delivery, so the document should match the commercial invoice, packing list, and booking details.
There are different forms of BOLs, including negotiable and nonnegotiable versions, and the exact effect depends on the contract and transport mode. For example, a container moving from a U.S. exporter to an overseas buyer may travel under an ocean BOL that helps track the shipment and, in some cases, controls release at destination.