In plain English
This is the carrier's formal shipping paper for a shipment. It confirms that the carrier has received the goods to carry and records the terms that govern their transport.
In context
Here, B/L names the ocean shipment's main carrier-issued transport document, which acknowledges receipt of the goods for carriage and states the terms of their transport.
- Situation
- Coordinating freight quotes, booking, consolidation, handoff, and transport documents
- What it communicates
- names the main ocean transport document in the checklist or draft review.
Meaning limits
The term itself does not show whether the goods have already moved, arrived, or been delivered.
Examples
“The carrier issued the B/L while the crates were still on the dock.”
“For the ocean shipment, the shipper checked the B/L against the container numbers before dispatching the paperwork.”