What are the differences between a multimodal bill of lading and a bill of lading?

Bill of lading and multimodal bill of lading are two important transport documents. They are frequently used in international trade.

Exporters and importers should be expecting to receive one of these transport documents from carriers, especially when they choose to use sea transportation.

Sometimes, it is not easy to distinguish a bill of lading from a multimodal bill of lading, even for experienced shippers.

Today, I will show you how to seperate a bill of lading from a multimodal bill of lading. But first of all, you need to understand the importance of the shipment coverage, such as port-to-port shipments and door-to-door shipments.

Let me start with the definition of a port-to-port shipment.

What is a Port-to-Port Shipment?

Port to port shipment can be defined as a single mode sea freight transportation, which is started at the port of loading and ended at the port of discharge.

Bill of lading is the transport document which is exclusively used in port to port shipments. It is sometimes called as ocean bill of lading or marine bill of lading.

Delivery places on a multimodal bill of lading

Multimodal bill of lading (MBL) is a transport document, which is used in international trade transactions where at least two different modes of transport have been practiced in order to complete the shipment.

A transport document can only be accepted as a multimodal bill of lading, multimodal transport document or combined transport document, however named, only if it is possible to understand on the face of the document that at least two different modes of transport have been utilized.

For example if a transport document evidencing multiple modes of transport such as road and sea shipments, road and air shipments or road and rails shipments etc, then it is a multimodal transport document.

In order to determine whether or not multiple modes of transport have been used in a particular transport document, you should understand different aspects of delivery places.


In a typical multimodal bill of lading following delivery places are expected to be shown: Place of receipt, port of loading, port of discharge and place of delivery.

Today I want to explain how these places should be completed on a multimodal bill of lading.

After reading this page you should be able to understand basic concepts regarding place of receipt, port of loading, port of discharge and place of delivery stated on a multimodal bill of lading.

Are there any differences between MMBL and CTD?

Exporters and importers would like to do their business as efficient as possible in today’s global economy in order to be staying competitive and profitable.

International logistics companies have long ago understood this situation and took necessary steps.

Growing freight forwarders presence in global transportation sector was the ultimate response.

Freight forwarders’ role is very simple in an international transaction where only single mode of transport is used.

They buy bulk spaces from the transport companies and sell them to exporters and importers in small quantities.
Multimodal Transport