Ships’ Masters and the shipping departments of many companies are required to provide a bill of lading, which is a contract or agreement which acknowledges the receipt of specific goods. In addition to identifying the goods received, a straight bill of lading will also note where the location to which the goods will be shipped and, in some cases, when the goods are expected to arrive.

Because these forms are legally binding contracts, it is important they be written accurately, professionally and effectively. For proper bill of lading education and training, consider the following valuable options:

1. Investigate class options for constructing a bill of lading form. Relevant classes will discuss how to accomplish this important task.

2. Find assistance for writing a bill of lading contract from online bill of lading tutorials and templates or sample bill of lading forms.

3. Glean advice and assistance from bill of lading support sites, which can answer a person’s questions regarding the necessities of such contracts and agreements, the best wording for a bill of lading form and other related concerns.

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Enroll in classes designed to assist individuals in the writing of a bill of lading contract

Whether you want to write a uniform bill of lading or a surrender bill of lading, there are online courses designed to help you. For beginners as well as those who are more educated when it comes to a bill of lading, online classes can provide a solid foundation and more advanced tips and ideas for these important documents.

I recommend: Skyline College offers a number of courses based in business with an underlying concentration on importing and exporting procedures, including bills of lading. Bay Area International Logistics offers similar business classes with coverage of how to write and understand bills of lading.

Utilize tutorials to provide tips for a bill of lading form and find bill of lading template sites

Tutorials and template sites can help immensely when it comes to the creation of a bill of lading contract. Both of these types of websites can assist individuals in learning how to construct such an agreement and how it should look in the end.

I recommend: Transnet-Rating offers a tutorial for composing a bill of lading using their software program. Straight bill of lading, ocean bill of landing and more examples of bills of lading can be found at Smartbol.com.

Become aware of bill of lading support sites when you have a specific question or concern

There are many issues that may come up in the construction of a bill of lading. For assistance in answering specific concerns about bill of lading forms, consider visiting one of the many available and valuable bill of lading document support or help sites.

I recommend: Frequently asked questions and bill of lading support is found at a number of online websites. Some of these sites include the FindLaw website and Wanhai.com. Questions and comments about bills of landing can be posted at WiseGeek.com.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are many different bill of lading form options available to businesses and companies. Companies will have to decide between an electronic bill of lading and a physical bill of lading. In addition, variables include the option of writing up a uniform bill of lading or a generic bill of lading to be filled out as the need arises, or constructing a negotiable bill of lading for future potential alterations. Many companies may opt to utilize different bill of lading forms in different situations, but it is important to be aware of all options and possibilities to better address the issue of what your company will choose when the situation arises. After all, preparation is key in virtually every field.

A bill of lading or waybill is an instrument of title and, often, the only proof of who owns a shipment of goods as well as the terms under which they were shipped. Depending on what you're shipping, your bill of lading may be required to provide particular information to meet Department of Transportation requirements.

Different bill of lading forms apply to different types of shipping, and specialty goods such as hazardous materials may require special forms. Some of the most common kinds of waybills include the following:

1. Through bill of lading: Covers shipment both domestic and internationally by multiple carriers or methods

2. Ocean, inland or air bill of lading: Covers transport of goods by sea, land or air, respectively

3. Negotiable bill of lading: Covers transfer of rights of ownership to the owner of the bill of lading

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Protect your business by having the right bill of lading contract

Because the bill of lading is essentially a deed of ownership for the goods in question, making sure you have the right form filled out and filled out correctly is vital. Mistakes in the form or how you've filled it out can lead to delayed, rejected or lost shipments.

I recommend: ShipNorthAmerica offers a variety of sample bill of lading forms for download. For blank-by-blank information about how to fill out a straight bill of lading, see the Unz & Co sample short form straight bill of lading.

Use your computer to fill out bill of lading forms

Typing or even hand-writing bill of lading forms can be tiresome, repetitive and expensive; the cost of purchasing blank waybills adds up. Consider using a computer program to generate your bill of lading documents. You'll save in time and money, and reduce your frustration too.

I recommend: The Starre Enterprises Star Bill of Lading Program generates all your bill of lading forms on your Windows computer and prints them through a standard laser printer. Download.com offers the ALMsys Lading Manager Lite software, which is compatible with new Windows Vista systems, for a free trial.

Fill up your drawers with blank bill of lading forms

If you're a small operation or if you rarely ship goods domestically and internationally, you might be happy with a packet of blank bill of lading forms tucked into your top desk drawer. These blank documents are also good to have on hand if your computers go down or if for some reason you haven't been able to locate a bill of lading computer program that fits your needs.

I recommend: Drawing Board Printing offers all-in-one, universally accepted bill of lading forms that meet DOT requirements. If you're shipping hazardous materials, you can purchase suitable pre-printed, DOT compliant forms from The Compliance Center.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're trying to cut down on paper, see if any of your shippers are willing to accept an electronic bill of lading. Some countries have made it general policy to accept them on international shipments, and some domestic shippers offer them as an option too.

While the concepts behind shipping are relatively simple, there's more to the bill of lading or waybill on your desk than might first appear. In order to understand the information contained in this complex document, you need to have a basic understanding of some key terms.

Exactly what sort of waybill you find yourself faced with depends on what's being shipped, its origin, its destination and its mode of transport. The following vocabulary will help you to make sense of the complicated world of freight shipping:

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Waybill

A waybill is another word for bill of lading, the document that travels with a shipment of goods. The waybill identifies, among other things, who the shipment came from, who it's being shipped to, the goods included, how much they weigh, how they're packaged and how they're being shipped.

I recommend: BusinessDictionary.com offers a detailed explanation of the various types of waybills or bills of lading you're likely to encounter, as well as what a waybill does and does not specify.

Consignor

The consignor, also spelled as consigner, is the party providing goods to the consignee. While this is often the seller, it also may be the party or person who last had possession of the goods before they were shipped, or who initiated the shipment. The consignor is responsible for making sure the right consignment has been shipped according to the consignee's instructions.

I recommend: MoveTransport.com offers a detailed list of which parties may be considered a consignor and what the consignor's duties are.

Consignee

The consignee is the party who is to receive the goods in question, almost always the buyer.

I recommend: The 'Lectric Law Library details not just what a consignee is, but what responsibilities and liabilities the consignee enters into as soon as the goods in question have been paid for and shipped according to his or her request.

Certificate of value

The certificate of value is a document, separate from a waybill, that is often required to accompany goods being exported to a foreign country. The certificate of value is essentially an affidavit by the shipper certifying the correct value of the shipment and amount paid by the importer, to prevent the importer from under-declaring the value of the property to customs in the receiving country and thus avoid duties or taxes on the shipment.

I recommend: MalaysiaExports.com describes how certificates of value help prevent double invoicing, and when a certificate of value may not be needed.

Negotiable bill of lading

A negotiable bill of lading differs from other types of waybills primarily because it functions as a title for the goods being transported, so that ownership of the consignment can be transferred to a third party by transferring the negotiable bill of lading. A negotiable bill of lading may be signed over, and must be made up to order or to the consignee of the shipment.

I recommend: MaritimeKnowHow provides details about the requirements for a negotiable bill of lading and explains the difference between negotiable and non-negotiable waybills.

Intermodal transport

Intermodal transport is defined as the transport of a consignment by two or more methods that may include air, water, rail or truck services. Intermodal consignments are typically packaged in specialized intermodal containers that can be transferred from one transport method to another, such as from a train to a cargo ship, so that the goods do not have to be repackaged or handled in transit.

I recommend: Hofstra University offers a detailed explanation of general intermodal transport and its methods, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.