Documenti Key Shipping Documents
These documents are legal contracts and declarations required for trade and customs.
Bill of Lading (BOL or B/L)
What it is: The most important document in freight. It's a legal contract between the shipper (you) and the carrier.
Its 3 Main Jobs
1. A Receipt: Proves the carrier received the goods.
2. A Contract: Outlines the terms of carriage (what's being shipped, from where, to where).
3. A Document of Title: The person holding the BOL (usually the buyer) has the legal right to claim the goods upon arrival.
Commercial Invoice
What it is: A bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer.
Its Job: Used by customs authorities in both the export and import countries to determine the value of the goods and calculate the correct duties and taxes ($T$).
Packing List
What it is: A detailed list of what's inside each shipping carton or pallet.
Its Job: It shows the item-by-item breakdown, quantity, weight, and dimensions of each package. It's used by customs to verify the cargo matches the commercial invoice and by the recipient to check if they received everything.
Certificate of Origin (CO)
What it is: A document declaring which country the goods were manufactured in.
Its Job: Required by some countries to determine tariffs. Goods from certain countries may have lower (or higher) import taxes based on international trade agreements.
Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI)
What it is: A document you (the shipper) fill out and give to your freight forwarder.
Its Job: It's a "cheat sheet" with all your instructions. It tells the forwarder exactly what to do, who to contact, what documents to use, and how to handle the shipment, consolidating all key information in one place.
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