| Our Shipping Solutions export documentation software
makes it easy to correctly complete
the various export bills of lading and all the
other standard export documents you need to ship
your products to almost everywhere in the world.
 Just
enter your information into Shipping Solutions' EZ
Start Screen and the software automatically completes
the inland, ocean and air waybills of lading and
more than a dozen other export forms up to 5-times
faster than you can do it by hand!
A Solution to Meet Your Needs
Whether
you work for a company that ships a couple exports
every month or a larger corporation shipping dozens
of orders every week (or even every day), you'll
find a version of Shipping Solutions that will meet
your needs.
But don't just take our word for it.
Request a free demo version of
the software online or by calling us at 1-888-890-7447 and see for yourself
why thousands of successful exporters are using Shipping
Solutions to complete their export forms.
What is a Bill of Lading?
A bill of
lading serves different purposes. First, it is a
contract for the carriage of goods between the shipper
and the transportation company. Second, it serves
as a receipt issued by the carrier upon taking possession
of the goods. Third, it may serve as a document of
title that permits its holder to obtain title to,
and possession of, the goods.
These transport documents
expedite an export shipment from the time of departure
from your facility to delivery. When freight changes
hands from the shipper to the carrier, it is the
signature on the bill of lading that signifies that
the goods have been received in "good order." That
is, the goods are in the same condition as when they
left the shipper's facility, or a "clean" bill
of lading has been issued. A bill of lading without
any comments regarding damage, overage or underage
can play a crucial role in permitting the seller
to receive payment for the merchandise.
| Inland Bill of Lading |
 |
For
international shipments, an inland bill of
lading is often the first transportation document
issued for the international shipment. It may
be prepared by the carrier or the shipper and
then signed when the carrier takes possession
or "picks up" the
cargo.
The inland bill of lading provides information
on the products shipped, marks and numbers,
the name and address of the international carrier
in the seller's country, the weight of the
shipment, how it is packed, and references
to the carrier's limited liability. Our Shipping
Solutions export software allows you to quickly
and easily prepare an Inland Bill of Lading
and print it out on plain paper. You can download
a free copy of the Inland Bill of Lading form from
our website in PDF format. |
| Ocean Bill of Lading |
 |
As a document of title, the
ocean bill of lading authorizes the holder
or another party to take possession of the
goods. There are two categories that should
concern us here.
The straight bill is used when the shipment
is consigned directly to the named consignee
and no other party. Typically this type of
consignment is used for open account or cash
in advance transactions. The consignee can
obtain possession of the goods after arrival
upon presentation of a signed original bill
of lading to the carrier.
The ocean bill of lading consigned "to
order" or "to order of shipper" is
negotiable once it has been endorsed on the
back by the shipper or their representative.
The endorsed original ocean bill of lading
is usually sent to the bank in the buyer's
country and held until the transaction is satisfied
under a documentary collection, cash against
documents, or a letter of credit. Once the
endorsed original ocean bill of lading and
other required documents are in the hands of
the buyer, the buyer can transfer the bill
of lading.
Our Shipping Solutions export software allows
you to quickly and easily prepare an Ocean
Bill of Lading and print it out on plain paper.
You can download
a free copy of the Ocean Bill of Lading form from
our website in PDF format. |
| Air Waybill |
 |
The air waybill
(AWB) is the equivalent of an ocean bill of
lading used in air transport. However, the
air waybill cannot be negotiable; in other
words, it may not be consigned
"to order of shipper."
An AWB is the document that controls the routing
of the exporter's cargo while it is in the
hands of an air carrier or a consolidator.
The air waybill is a contract for carriage.
The face of the air waybill identifies the
shipper, the consignee, the carrier, the notify
party, the freight forwarder, routing, the
description, weight and dimensions of the cargo,
freight charges, and the relevant anti-diversion
clause. On the reverse of the air waybill,
the carrier's contract with the shipper and
consignee are detailed.
Our Shipping Solutions Professional software
allows you to quickly and easily prepare an
Air Waybill and print it out on plain paper.
You can download
a free copy of the Air Waybill form from
our website in PDF format. |
| Dock Receipt |
 |
The dock receipt is designed to provide
the shipper/exporter with proof of delivery
of the cargo to the carrier in good condition.
The inland carrier may deliver the goods to
a warehouse company or to a warehouse operated
by the carrier as arranged by the freight forwarder.
The dock receipt is usually prepared by the
freight forwarder and is signed by the warehouseman
or agent for the carrier upon receipt of the
goods. Descriptive information helps the steamship
company keep track of the shipment on the pier.
The inland carrier provides the dock receipt
to the freight forwarder as evidence that satisfactory
delivery has been completed.
Our Shipping Solutions export software allows
you to quickly and easily prepare a Dock
Receipt and print it out on plain paper.
You can download
a free copy of the Dock Receipt form from
our website in PDF format. |
Export
Regulations, Documentation & Procedures
Want to
learn more about export bills of lading and the entire
export process? This
summary was adapted with permission from Chapter
8 of Export Regulations,
Documentations & Procedures by George Thompson
and Catherine J. Petersen. To learn
more about the book visit
the International Business Training website.
To learn how quick and easy it is to prepare an inland
bill of lading, ocean bill of lading,
air waybill or dock receipt, you can request a free
demo version of the Shipping Solutions
software online or by calling us at 1-888-890-7447. |
