Online bill of lading in minutes
Create a bill of lading or sea waybill in your browser: shipper, consignee, notify party, vessel, ports, containers and freight in one form. Download the PDF, print the originals or email the document.
- Free plan forever
- Bill of lading and sea waybill
- No credit card
See it in action
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How to create a bill of lading online in 3 steps
- 1
Create a free account
Sign-up takes a minute. Your company and customer details are saved once, and then you pick the shipper, consignee and notify party from a list.
- 2
Fill in the B/L or create it from an order
Go through the steps: parties, transport, cargo and freight. Or generate a bill of lading from a transport order. The customer becomes the shipper or consignee and the goods are copied automatically.
- 3
Download, print or send
Download a draft for approval, print the original set or a copy, and email the finished document straight from the app.
Everything you need for a bill of lading
Bill of lading from a transport order
Stop entering data twice. Generate a bill of lading from an order and choose whether the customer is the shipper or the consignee.
Containers and seals
Container numbers with ISO 6346 check digit validation, size and type, seals, VGM and temperature. Paste a container list from Excel or Google Sheets instead of typing each one.
Dangerous goods
UN number, IMDG class, proper shipping name, packing group, flash point, EmS and marine pollutant marking on each goods line.
Freight and charges
Freight prepaid or collect, origin and destination charges, place of payment and prepaid/collect totals. Or print "Freight as arranged" without amounts.
Originals under control
Set the number of originals and print the original set, a copy or a draft. An issued B/L is locked, and a correction creates a new revision with the same B/L number.
Email delivery and QR code
Send the PDF to your customer or agent straight from the app. Every document has a QR code that leads to it in the system.
Bill of lading or sea waybill in one form
The same form covers the negotiable bill of lading and the non-negotiable sea waybill. Choose the document type and consignee, and the fields and PDF wording follow your choice.
Create a bill of lading for free- To order, to order of shipper, to order of a named party or named consignee
- Sea waybill without originals, always to a named consignee
- Notify party, or "same as consignee"
- Express release: goods delivered without surrender of an original
- House B/L (forwarder) or master B/L (ocean carrier)
- Shipped on board or received for shipment, with the on-board date
What is a bill of lading?
A bill of lading (B/L) is the key document in the carriage of goods by sea. It is a receipt for the goods taken over by the carrier, evidence of the contract of carriage and, when negotiable, a document of title: the lawful holder of an original can claim the goods.
A bill of lading is usually issued as a set of several originals, most often three. At destination the consignee surrenders one original and the others become void. A sea waybill works differently: it is not a document of title, no originals are issued, and the goods are delivered to the consignee named in it.
The most important details on a bill of lading are: shipper, consignee and notify party, vessel and voyage number, port of loading and port of discharge, container and seal numbers, marks and description of goods, number of packages, gross weight and volume, freight terms (prepaid or collect), number of originals, and place and date of issue.
Frequently asked questions about bills of lading online
Can I create a bill of lading online for free?
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Yes. The logistics-docs free plan never expires and lets you create bills of lading and sea waybills, download them as PDF and send them by email. No credit card required.
What is the difference between a bill of lading and a sea waybill?
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A bill of lading can be negotiable (to order), and the goods are delivered against an original. A sea waybill is non-negotiable, has no originals, and the goods go to the consignee named in it. In logistics-docs you choose the document type in the same form.
Can I create a bill of lading from a transport order?
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Yes. Use the Generate action on an order and select bill of lading. Choose whether the customer is the shipper or the consignee. Customer details, goods and the order reference are filled in automatically.
How many originals can I issue?
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From 1 to 9. You set the number in the form, three by default. Sea waybills and express releases are issued without originals. Printing another original set requires confirmation.
Can I add many containers at once?
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Yes. Paste a container list, for example copied from Excel or Google Sheets. Numbers, types, seals, packages and weight are recognised, and you see a preview with warnings before adding them.
Can I sign a bill of lading electronically?
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E-signing the PDF is suitable for sea waybills and for draft approval. An e-signed PDF of a bill of lading does not transfer title to the goods. Print the bill of lading originals and sign them by hand.
Create your first bill of lading online today
Free plan forever, bill of lading and sea waybill in one form, and documents straight from transport orders.
Create a bill of lading for free