LogisticsB/L

Bill of Lading (B/L)

Quick answer

The sea transport document proving receipt of goods, the transport contract and title to the goods.

Key takeaways

Straight B/L - non-negotiable, fixed consignee
Order B/L - negotiable, transferable by endorsement
Telex release / Sea Waybill - variants without a physical original

What a bill of lading is

Bill of Lading (B/L) is the document issued by the sea carrier that serves at once as proof of receipt of goods, transport contract and negotiable title to the goods.

Why it matters to the board

For importing companies, the B/L is key to releasing goods from port and to letter-of-credit payments. B/L errors hold goods and create demurrage costs.

Types

Straight B/L - non-negotiable, fixed consignee

Order B/L - negotiable, transferable by endorsement

Telex release / Sea Waybill - variants without a physical original

How CRMconnect helps

CRMconnect keeps import documents (B/L, packing list, commercial invoice) linked to the purchase order and lead time, giving visibility over goods in transit up to receipt.

Real-world example

An importer frequently paid demurrage because import documents arrived out of sync. Consolidating them on the order in CRMconnect cut port release time and demurrage costs.

Last updated: 2026-07-17

Frequently asked

Difference between B/L and CMR?+

B/L covers sea transport (and is title to goods); CMR covers international road transport. They are documents for different transport modes.

What is a telex release?+

An electronic release of goods without presenting the physical original B/L, used to speed up delivery at the destination port.

Where CRMconnect fits

Software OMS Software WMS Conectori ERP

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Related terms

Logistics