A bill of lading records a shipment’s goods, carrier, and delivery terms.
The document is issued by a carrier or its agent to the shipper. It acknowledges receipt of cargo and describes important details such as the goods, quantity, destination, and transport conditions. In many traditional arrangements, it can also serve as evidence of the contract of carriage and, when negotiable, as a document of title.
Bills of lading are used in ocean, road, rail, and air-related logistics, although different transport modes may use specialized documents. Electronic bills of lading are increasingly used to reduce paperwork and speed up trade documentation.
A bill of lading is not the same as a commercial invoice, which states the sale price and helps customs assess value. A packing list describes how goods are packed, while a certificate of origin identifies where products were made.