Bill of Lading: Template, Types & Fields

The bill of lading (B/L) is the single most important document in ocean freight, and the one most likely to hold up a shipment if it is wrong. Get the fields and the type right before the vessel sails, because correcting a B/L after issue is slow and often costs money.

The three functions of a bill of lading

A B/L is issued by the carrier (or its agent) once the goods are on board, and it does three legal jobs at once:

1. Receipt for the goods — proof the carrier received your cargo in the stated condition and quantity.
2. Evidence of the contract of carriage — it records the agreed terms between you and the carrier.
3. Document of title — whoever holds an original negotiable B/L can claim or transfer ownership of the goods. This is what makes it different from a road CMR, which is not a document of title.

That third function is why originals are handled like cash: the carrier releases the cargo at destination against a surrendered original.

Types of bill of lading

Type	Negotiable?	Consignee	Use case
Straight B/L	No	Named party	Cargo already paid for; only the named consignee can collect
Order B/L	Yes	"To order"	Most common; ownership transfers by endorsement
Bearer B/L	Yes	Whoever holds it	Rare; high risk if lost
Sea waybill	No	Named party	No original needed; fast release
Telex release	n/a	Named party	Originals surrendered at origin, cargo released without paper at destination

A sea waybill or telex release speeds up release when there is no need to transfer title in transit. An order B/L is the default when a letter of credit or a chain of buyers is involved.

Fields a bill of lading must carry

• Shipper — the exporter / seller
• Consignee — who receives the goods (or "to order")
• Notify party — who the carrier alerts on arrival
• Carrier, vessel and voyage number
• Port of loading and port of discharge
• Description of goods — plus marks and numbers
• Number of packages and packing type
• Gross weight and measurement (CBM)
• Freight terms — prepaid or collect
• Date and place of issue
• Number of originals issued

The goods description and packing detail should match your commercial invoice and packing list exactly — any mismatch slows customs clearance. Freight terms on the B/L follow your agreed Incoterm; under CIF, for example, the seller pays freight, so the B/L is marked "freight prepaid".

From B/L to a booked rate

The B/L is the output of a sea-freight booking, not the start of it. UMERA turns your shipment details into an RFQ that carriers and forwarders quote on, so you compare real rates before any document is drawn up. For more, see bill of lading explained and the wider set of export documents.

FAQ

What are the three functions of a bill of lading?

It is a receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and a document of title that can transfer ownership of the cargo.

Is a bill of lading the same as a CMR?

No. A B/L covers sea freight and is a document of title; a CMR covers road freight and is only a consignment note, not proof of ownership.

What is a telex release?

A telex release is a message from the origin carrier confirming the originals have been surrendered, so the cargo can be released at destination without presenting paper originals.

Who issues the bill of lading?

The carrier or its agent issues it once the goods are loaded, based on the shipping details provided by the shipper or forwarder.