Blind shipping is a logistics arrangement in which the shipper, consignee, or both are kept from seeing the other party’s identity on shipping paperwork. It is used to protect business relationships, pricing, or supply-chain details, while the cargo still moves through normal freight channels. In practice, the shipment records are adjusted so the end customer sees only the party that should appear on the documents.
How it works
A blind shipment usually depends on careful document control by the freight forwarder or carrier, along with instructions from the customer. The bill of lading, delivery receipt, or commercial invoice may show a different name and address from the actual supplier or buyer, depending on the agreed structure and the transport mode. Because details can differ by carrier, country, and contract, the parties should confirm in advance which documents will be altered and who will receive each copy.
Common uses and limits
Companies often use blind shipping in dropshipping, distributor sales, or private-label programs when they do not want the end customer to learn the original source. It can also help when a buyer wants to avoid direct contact between a manufacturer and its customer. Even so, blind shipping does not remove legal or customs obligations: accurate trade information still has to be available to the parties that need it for clearance, invoicing, insurance, and compliance.
For example, a U.S. importer may ask a forwarder to move goods from an overseas supplier to a retail customer without revealing the supplier’s identity on the customer-facing paperwork. The freight still travels normally, but the document trail is intentionally limited to the identities agreed upon in the transaction.