Inventory glossary
What is Bill of lading?
A bill of lading is a shipping document from the carrier that lists what goods are being transported, from where, to where, and under what terms, and acts as proof that the carrier received the goods.
If you import stock or use freight carriers for larger orders, the bill of lading is the paperwork that proves your goods are actually on a truck, ship, or plane. It matters when something goes wrong: damaged boxes, missing cartons, or a shipment stuck at customs. Without it, you have no proof of what was shipped or who is responsible.
For a small Shopify store, you usually only deal with a bill of lading when you order in bulk from an overseas or large domestic supplier and use freight rather than a parcel courier. Keep a copy for every shipment and check the quantities on it against what you actually receive before you close out the purchase order.
Example
A candle store in Ohio orders 200 cases of glass jars from a supplier in China. The freight forwarder issues a bill of lading showing 200 cases, 1,000 kg total weight, loaded on a specific container, shipped from Shanghai to Los Angeles. When the container arrives, the store owner checks the bill of lading against the actual count before signing off on delivery.
Common mistakes
- Treating the bill of lading as a final invoice when it is only a shipping record, not a bill for payment.
- Not checking the document against the actual delivered quantity before signing for receipt.
- Losing track of the bill of lading number, which makes tracing a lost or delayed shipment much harder.
Bill of lading and SteadyShelf
SteadyShelf does not handle freight documents, but it tracks incoming purchase orders and lead times so you know when a shipment covered by a bill of lading is due to arrive and be received into stock.
SteadyShelf is launching on the Shopify App Store. Join early access to get the install link first.
Related terms
Receiving · Incoterms · Freight forwarder · Purchase order · Lead time
FAQ
Do small Shopify stores need a bill of lading for every order?
No. You typically only see one for freight shipments, such as bulk or overseas orders. Small parcel shipments from couriers use a different tracking document.
Who issues the bill of lading?
The carrier or freight forwarder issues it, not the supplier, once they take possession of the goods for transport.
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