Bill of Lading (BOL or B/L)

A Bill of Lading is a legal document issued by a freight company that serves as a receipt for shipped goods and acts as a contract of carriage between the shipper, the carrier, and the consignee. It provides proof of ownership and outlines details about the shipment, such as origin, destination, description of goods, weight/volume, date of shipment, etc.

There are several types of bills of lading, including Master Bills of Lading and Express Bills of Lading. The shipper must sign the document to confirm that the goods have been accepted for transport. It is also used as proof of delivery upon arrival at the destination.