A bill of lading is a document created by a cargo carrier and issued to the sender, acknowledging and detailing the material being shipped. It also includes the name and address of the person or organization the material is being consigned, or shipped to, in order to provide proof of delivery when the goods are received.There are several different types of bills of lading, including straight,
. order, bearer and surrender. Each type places different responsibilities on the carrier as well as the recipient. The straight type is the most common, while the order bill directs the shipper to deliver at the order of the recipient at a location of their choice. The bearer bill of lading states that delivery will be made to whoever holds the bill, and the surrender bill is a form of direct liability "" the shipper is not paid until the bill is received and paid by the issuing bank. So bills of lading can be negotiable instruments as well as delivery documents.A clean bill of lading notes that the cargo was loaded aboard the shipping vehicle in apparent good condition. The opposite, or soiled bill of lading, states that the goods were received by the shipping company in less than perfect condition, possibly with noticeable damage. This bill can be used as evidence in a damage claim against the sender.One particular type of bill is called the express bill of lading. This document is typically transmitted electronically from the shipper to the recipient. It can be thought of as a proof of shipping declaration, stating the nature of the cargo, its total amount, and the shipping date. The cargo carrier does not require showing the bill of lading in order to make delivery "" it merely defines what has been shipped and is more of a procedural document for file purposes.More reference links: http://www.oceanfreightusa.com/shipdoc_bl.php http://www.genemack.com/bill_of_lading.shtml
