Are there any differences between express bills of lading vs. non-negotiable sea waybills?

We can see that international logistics sector is no shy assigning new names to the transport documents. 

ICC which is the short form of International Chamber of Commerce have noticed this reality and add phrases to its rules books such as UCP 600, ISBP in an effect that the name of the transport document is not a point of consideration. 

Let us have a look at couple of these expressions from UCP 600.

• A transport document covering at least two different modes of transport (multimodal or combined transport document), however named,
• A bill of lading, however named, 
• A non-negotiable sea waybill, however named,

What are the differences between bills of lading vs. non-negotiable bills of lading?

Bill of lading is a transport document which is used in international port to port sea shipments. 

This transport document has a long history as it can be accepted as a first transport document used in international shipments.

Traditional bill of lading was developed before the industrial revolution had been taken place. 

At those times vessels were slow and information options were very limited comparing our current technology.

Bill of Lading Specifications

Bill of lading has been evolved over the years in order to respond the changing business environment. Non negotiable bill of lading is one of the end results of this evolution.

How to send samples via international courier without having custom clearance problems?

TNT, DHL, FedEx and UPS are the well known global air courier companies.

They carry lots of international cargo contains not only just shipment documents but also small parcels every day from one country to another.

They are fast, secure and reliable service providers for international companies.

Sometimes samples held by the customs and unexpected custom clearance costs will be paid by the exporters or the importers.

Negative effects of this problem could lead to some harmful consequences on these companies.

On this article I would like to write about how to make sample shipments via courier companies so that the parcels will not be held by the customs.

International Courier Shipments

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

Letters of Indemnity for Telex Release of goods

If a negotiable bill of lading has been issed in an international trade transaction, then importers have to present to the carrier’s agents at the port of discharge one original copy of bill of lading in order to receive the goods.

If buyers could not present this original bill of lading than the shipper may have to fill a document called letter of indemnity to have the goods released without surrender of the original bill of lading. 

This article explains the issuance process of letter of indemnity and telex release of goods.