Inland Bill of Lading

   The inland bill of lading is a contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier stating what goods are shipping, where they are going, and where they started. It also serves as a receipt issued by the carrier once your shipment is picked up. This document is typically consigned to the freight forwarder, warehouse, packaging company, another third party in the process, or the international carrier. It is not typically consigned to the foreign buyer of the goods. If it is not immediately consigned to the international carrier, the forwarder or other third party will need to consign it to the carrier once they are identified.

An inland bill of lading should include:

• the name and contact information for the exporter, the consignee, and the bill to party;
• the inland carrier’s information;
• a description of the goods including their weight and dimensions and how they are packed;
• any special instructions for the shipment.