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International Trade vocabulary · Trade Documents

Bill of lading

Meaning in international trade, with examples

nounCore term

In international trade, bill of lading means: A document issued by the shipping line that confirms the goods were received or loaded, sets out the terms of carriage and gives the holder the right to collect the cargo.

In Turkish: konşimento, deniz konşimentosu

How it is used

Short form B/L or BL. It is usually issued in a set of three originals, and a 'to order' B/L can be endorsed and transferred, which makes it a document of title. Common phrases: 'clean on board B/L', 'release the B/L', 'surrender the originals'.

Example sentences

  1. The bill of lading must show the goods as shipped on board before 15 May.

  2. We cannot release the container until the consignee presents an original bill of lading.

Common collocations

  • issue a bill of lading
  • original bill of lading
  • clean bill of lading
  • to order bill of lading
  • endorse a bill of lading
  • shipperThe party that sends goods and hands them to the carrier; on a bill of lading it is usually the exporter or seller.
  • consigneeThe person or company named on a transport document as the one who will receive the goods at destination.
  • notify partyThe person or company named on a bill of lading whom the carrier will inform when the goods arrive, often the buyer or the buyer's customs broker.
  • telex releaseAn instruction from the shipping line to its office at destination to deliver the cargo without original bills of lading, because the originals were surrendered at the port of loading.
  • air waybillThe transport document for goods sent by air, issued by the airline or its agent as a receipt for the cargo and evidence of the contract of carriage.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Trade Documents

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