Bill of Lading Generator
A bill of lading does three jobs at once, which is why it causes so much trouble. It is the carrier's receipt for the goods, it is evidence of the contract of carriage, and — when made out to order — it is a document of title, meaning whoever holds the original can claim the cargo. That third role is why originals are couriered rather than emailed, and why losing one is a serious problem.
| Marks and Numbers | Container / Seal No. | No. of Pkgs | Kind of Packages | Description of Goods | Gross Weight (KG) | Measurement (CBM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RECEIVED by the Carrier the goods described above in apparent good order and condition unless otherwise stated, to be transported to such place as agreed, authorised or permitted herein and subject to all the terms and conditions appearing on the front and reverse of this Bill of Lading. In accepting this Bill of Lading the Merchant agrees to be bound by all such terms and conditions as if each had individually signed it.
Your entries are kept as you move between documents — the parties, ports, container and line items carry across.
Straight, order and bearer bills
A straight bill names a consignee and only that consignee can collect; it is not negotiable. An order bill is made out 'to order' or 'to the order of' a bank, and title passes by endorsement — this is what letters of credit rely on. A bearer bill releases cargo to whoever presents it, which is as risky as it sounds and is rarely used. Choose deliberately: the wrong type can leave a seller shipping goods they no longer control.
The notify party is not the consignee
The notify party is simply who the carrier telephones when the vessel arrives — often a customs broker acting for the buyer. Naming them does not give them any right to the goods. Leaving the box blank is a common cause of demurrage, because nobody is told the container has landed until storage charges have already started accruing.
Said to contain
The cargo description on a container bill is furnished by the shipper, not verified by the carrier — hence 'said to contain' and 'shipper's load and count'. The carrier is receipting a sealed box, not its contents. This matters when a claim arises: the bill proves a container was handed over, not that it held what you said it did. Your packing list and seal number carry that weight.
Want a blank one to complete by hand? Download the bill of lading template →
Exporters
Issue the invoice, packing list and origin paperwork for a shipment in one sitting, without re-keying the consignee address four times.
Freight forwarders
Produce a clean set of documents for a client who sent you a spreadsheet, and hand back PDFs that a customs broker will accept.
Customs brokers
Rebuild a missing or unusable document from the particulars you already hold, without waiting on the shipper's software licence.
One shipment in, every document out
| FreightStow | Typical alternative | |
|---|---|---|
| Enter the shipment once, every document fills in | Yes | Re-key per document |
| Document types | 33 | Varies |
| Statutory forms (CMR, ISF, USMCA origin) | Included | Often missing |
| Add, rename or remove line-item columns | Yes | Fixed templates |
| PDF built in your browser | Yes | Upload, then download |
| Works before you create an account | Yes | Usually not |
The right-hand column describes the general pattern in this category, not one named vendor. Features and plans change — check any provider’s current terms before deciding.
Commercial documents · 12
- Packing List — DetailedFull itemised packing list with HS codes, marks and numbers, package types and per-item dimensions.
- Packing List — SimpleMinimal packing list: what is in the shipment, how many packages, and what it weighs. No HS codes or dimensions.
- Packing List — ContainerPacking list broken down by container, for FCL shipments where each line must be traced to a container and seal.
- Packing List — ConsolidatedOne packing list covering several orders or invoices consolidated into a single shipment.
- Commercial InvoiceThe primary customs valuation document: what was sold, to whom, on what terms, and for how much.
- Proforma InvoiceA binding quotation in invoice form, issued before shipment so the buyer can open a letter of credit or arrange an import licence.
- Tax InvoiceInvoice showing the tax charged on a supply, in the form required for the buyer to reclaim input tax.
- Credit NoteCancels or reduces a previously issued invoice, for returns, short shipments or agreed price adjustments.
- Purchase OrderThe buyer's formal instruction to supply goods on stated terms, prices and delivery dates.
- QuotationA priced offer to supply, stating validity, lead time and the Incoterms the price is quoted on.
- Request for QuotationInvites a supplier to price a specified list of goods against stated delivery terms and a response deadline.
- Sales ConfirmationThe seller's acceptance of an order, confirming goods, price, terms and shipment schedule back to the buyer.
Declarations & instructions · 10
- Non Asbestos DeclarationCertifies that the goods contain no asbestos in any form — required by Australia, Saudi Arabia and other markets that ban asbestos outright.
- New and Unused DeclarationCertifies that the goods are new and have never been used — required where the destination restricts imports of second-hand goods.
- Packing DeclarationDeclares the timber packaging and container cleanliness of a consignment — required for Australian and New Zealand biosecurity clearance.
- DeclarationA blank declaration on letterhead, for the one-off statements a buyer, bank or customs authority asks for that have no standard form.
- Declaration of OriginA self-certified origin statement made by the exporter, used where a full chamber-stamped certificate of origin is not required.
- Verified Gross Mass DeclarationThe SOLAS VGM certificate. No container may be loaded to a vessel without a signed verified gross mass from the shipper.
- Shipper's Letter of InstructionThe exporter's instructions to their freight forwarder, including the authority to act as agent for customs purposes.
- Shipping InstructionTells the carrier exactly how the bill of lading should read: parties, routing, cargo description and freight terms.
- Forwarding InstructionBooks a consignment with a freight forwarder: collection details, routing, cargo particulars and who pays which charges.
- Sales ContractThe agreement itself: goods, price, delivery terms, payment and the clauses both parties sign against.
Statutory & customs forms · 11
- CMR — Consignment Note (Sender)The sender's copy of the international road consignment note, retained as proof of what was handed to the carrier.
- CMR — Consignment Note (Carrier)The carrier's copy of the road consignment note, evidencing the contract of carriage.
- CMR — Consignment Note (Consignee)The consignee's copy of the road consignment note, travelling with the goods and signed on delivery.
- Bill of LadingThe carrier's receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and a document of title the consignee must surrender to collect the cargo.
- Certificate of OriginCertifies where goods were produced. Usually stamped by a chamber of commerce and required to claim tariff treatment or satisfy a letter of credit.
- Certification of Origin (USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC)The free-trade certification for US–Mexico–Canada shipments. Has no prescribed form, but must carry all nine required data elements.
- Importer Security FilingThe ten data elements a US importer must file with CBP at least 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel bound for the United States.
- Phytosanitary CertificateCertifies that a consignment of plants or plant products meets the importing country's phytosanitary requirements.
- Form 6 — Transboundary Movement DocumentMovement document accompanying a transboundary shipment of hazardous waste, tracking it from exporter to disposal facility.
- Form 9 — Transboundary Movement DocumentMovement document for transboundary shipments of hazardous recyclable material, tracking custody through to the recovery facility.
- Bill of ExchangeAn unconditional written order requiring the drawee to pay a fixed sum on demand or at a stated future date — the instrument behind documentary collections.
+What is the difference between a bill of lading and a waybill?
A sea waybill is a receipt and a contract of carriage but not a document of title, so no original needs to be surrendered — the named consignee simply identifies themselves. That makes waybills faster and safer for shipments between related companies or on open account. Use a bill of lading when title needs to pass with the document, typically under a letter of credit.
+How many original bills of lading are issued?
Conventionally three, described on the face of the document as a 'full set'. Surrendering any one accomplishes delivery and voids the others. Banks under a letter of credit usually require the full set precisely so that no stray original can be used to claim the cargo elsewhere.
+Who signs the bill of lading?
The carrier, or an agent signing expressly on the carrier's behalf — the capacity should be stated, for example 'as agent for the carrier'. A bill signed without a clear capacity can create arguments about who the contracting carrier actually is when a claim is made.
+What is a clean bill of lading?
One with no clause noting defective condition of the goods or packaging. If the carrier records damage — wet cartons, broken pallets — the bill is claused, and a claused bill will normally be rejected under a letter of credit. This is why the condition of goods at the terminal gate matters commercially, not just physically.
+Can I issue my own bill of lading?
As a shipper, no — the carrier issues it, because it is the carrier's receipt and the carrier's contract. What you can do, and what this generator is for, is prepare the document so the particulars are correct before it goes to the carrier or forwarder for issue. Getting the parties, routing and cargo description right in advance avoids amendment fees later.
Judge it by the document, not the feature list.
The generator on this page is the product, prefilled and editable. Fill it in and download the finished PDF — then decide.
Create a bill of lading