The Bill of Lading: The Acknowledgment that You Have Your Items

Unless you're doing it yourself or with some help from family or friends, moving is rarely as simple as packing your things into boxes, moving them and unpacking them. If you've hired professional movers, there should be much more involved. Hopefully, you've taken a look at our Moving Squad testimonials.

Any reputable moving company should have a listing of consumer reports and reviews from previous customers for you to have a look at. They should also make you aware of the bill of lading, the document used to acknowledge the receipt of your items. If you're not sure what a bill of lading is, don't worry! We want to help.

What Is It?
Assuming you've hired an honorable moving company, your carrier should issue this document to the shipper. It will acknowledge that you've received your things but in addition, will also work to indicate which truck your items are on, where they are going and the terms for their transportation. Your bill of lading should cover the specific terms agreed to between you and your moving company as well as provide the details of the agreed upon transportation of your items. Your document can also be known as an inland bill of lading, an ocean bill of lading and an air waybill, depending on the terms.

Inland Bill of Lading
This is the document that will establish the agreement between you and your moving company. However, it is also used to lay out the terms for transporting your items over land to the exporter's international transportation company.

Ocean Bill of Lading
This is the paperwork you'll need that proves the terms between an exporter and an international carrier. It is proof that the carrier has shipped the goods to a foreign location overseas.

Air Waybill
This is the bill of lading that deals with your items in the instance that they have to be flown. It establishes the terms of flights for the transportation of your items both nationally and internationally. It will also act as the receipt for the shipper that will prove the fact that the carrier has accepted the goods and then agreed to carry those items to a specified airport.

Have you made a move recently? If you haven't received a bill of lading yet, it's time to act now and contact your moving company for one. Not sure how to do it? Find us on Twitter and we'll be happy to help!