B/L (or BOL) stands for bill of lading: the document a carrier issues for goods it has received for shipment. It is a receipt, the contract of carriage, and often the title to the goods.
B/L stands for bill of lading. It is the document a carrier, or its agent, issues to the shipper when it receives goods for transport, most often by sea. In US trucking the same idea is usually abbreviated BOL. A bill of lading does three jobs at once.
A typical ocean bill of lading shows:
The figures should match the commercial invoice and packing list exactly. A mismatch in weight or package count is one of the most common reasons a bank rejects documents under a letter of credit.
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Straight B/L | Names a specific consignee and is not negotiable; only that consignee can take delivery. |
| To order B/L | Made out "to order" or "to order of" a bank or shipper; it can be transferred by endorsement, so it works as a title document. |
| Master B/L (MBL) | Issued by the shipping line to the freight forwarder or NVOCC. |
| House B/L (HBL) | Issued by the forwarder to the actual shipper, often for consolidated cargo. |
| Clean B/L | No remarks about damaged goods or packaging. A "claused" or "foul" B/L notes a problem and is usually refused by banks. |
| Shipped on board B/L | Confirms the goods are on the vessel, with the date. A "received for shipment" B/L only confirms the carrier has them. |
| Sea waybill | A non negotiable alternative: the named consignee collects the goods without presenting an original. Used when no bank needs a title document. |
With original negotiable bills, the consignee or holder surrenders one original at the destination to get a delivery order. If the originals are late, the shipper can surrender them at origin and ask the carrier for a "telex release", or the parties can use a sea waybill from the start. Electronic bills of lading are growing, and are now recognised by law in several countries, but paper originals are still common.
The Incoterm decides who arranges the carriage and therefore who gets the bill of lading from the carrier. Under CIF or CFR the seller contracts the ship and must hand the buyer the transport document. Under FOB or FCA the buyer contracts the carrier. To prepare the document itself, use the bill of lading generator.
B/L means bill of lading: the document a carrier issues for goods it receives for shipment. It is a receipt, evidence of the contract of carriage and, when negotiable, the title to the goods.
Nothing in meaning. B/L is the usual abbreviation in ocean shipping; BOL is common in US trucking and freight.
The carrier or its agent, such as the shipping line or a freight forwarder acting as carrier (an NVOCC), once it has received the goods.
A bill made out 'to order' that can be transferred by endorsement. Whoever lawfully holds the original can claim the goods, which is why banks use it under letters of credit.
Usually three originals, shown as 3/3. Any one of them can be used to take delivery, after which the others are void.