Bills of Lading: Don’t Overlook the Opportunity

Does the term “bills of lading” make your eyes glaze over? If so, we understand. The term is not particularly exciting, but the recurring revenue you can gain from these products can be. So let’s talk about them.

A bill of lading is a legal document that serves as proof of a contract between a shipper, carrier, and consignee. It details the type and quantity of goods being transported, as well as the terms and conditions of delivery.

Any company that ships or receives products needs a bill of lading—and that’s pretty much any company in your book of business.

8 Types of Bills of Lading

Here we’ll look at eight different types of bills of lading. You don’t need to memorize this list or be an expert on these products. This list is simply to get you thinking about which customers use them, and if you are not already supplying a customer with bills of lading, how you can open the conversation. If that customer is already purchasing these products from someone else, they will benefit from purchasing them from a single supplier — you!

Why do you want to go after this business?

• Bills of lading are high-profit products.
• Bills of lading are repeatable. Once you sell them into an account, they repeat month after month, year after year, with little or no intervention.
• Bills of lading are also a good cross-sell opportunity. If one of your customers needs these documents, they will also need shipping labels. If you are asking about one, make sure to ask about the other.

Here are eight types of bills of lading you should know:

1. Uniform Straight Bill of Lading

Also known as a “non-negotiable” bill of lading, straight bills are used for shipments that have been paid for in advance. The shipper, consignee, and product are clearly stated, and the bill must be signed by all involved parties.

2. VICS Bill of Lading

Created by the Voluntary Industry Commerce Standards (VICS) organization, these forms are specific to the merchandise retail industry. VICS forms offer a set of suggested guidelines in their layout and overall configuration but tend to vary from retailer to retailer. VICS forms can be best identified by their 17-digit number codes.

3. Master House Bill of Lading

Master house bills function as a sort of “play by play” of the shipping process. They specify where the goods are intended to go, how they will get there, and how they will be presented to the receiver. Think of them as the master road map.

4. Sub-house Bill of Lading

These bills are used for shipments requiring multiple suppliers and multiple print forms. For every supplier involved in the transaction, there is a unique sub-house bill of lading.

5. “Clean” and “Foul” Bills of Lading

“Clean” and “foul” bills are often used in conjunction with house bills for international shipping. A clean bill indicates that all items listed were received in perfect condition. A foul bill indicates that some form of damage occurred during transport that must be addressed before payment can be made by either party.

6. Through Bill of Lading

A through bill of lading is basically a permissions form allowing the holder of the bill to handle shipment from the point of origin to the final point of destination. Sub-forms of through bills include inland bill of lading forms and ocean bill of lading forms.

7. Express Bill of Lading

This bill of lading is used when goods need to be shipped quickly and efficiently. It includes all the same information as a standard bill but is typically more concise and less detailed in order to expedite the process.

8. Special Bill of Lading

This type of bill of lading is typically used when goods are being shipped under special conditions or circumstances. This could include items such as live animals, hazardous materials, or fragile items that require extra care during transport.

What These Bills Have in Common

​​​​​​​​Regardless of what type of bill of lading is used, all must include details such as shipper and recipient information, description of the goods being shipped, container numbers (if applicable), weight and volume measurements, and a signature from the carrier accepting the load. Certain documents may also need to be included, such as proof of insurance and certificates of origin.

Bills of lading forms can provide a great source of consistent, repeatable revenue for print distributors. Your primary contact will be the logistics or shipping manager.

When searching for new customers, remember the high volume and variation available within this single type of shipping form. Any company that requires the movement of goods via air, train, truck, or ship will require one or more of these forms in abundance, so be sure not to miss out on this recurring stream of revenue!

Want to learn more about how to sell these high-profit products? Contact us and let’s talk about it.

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