Documentation for Freight Forwarding

Exporters are advised to allow the freight forwarder to handle the large quantity of documentation that goes with the process as it is often complicated. Some of the documents you may find are as follows:

Bill of Lading
This is a contract between the goods owner and the carrier.

Certificate of Origin
Required by certain countries to ascertain the origin of the item to be exported.

Commercial Invoice
This is the invoice from the seller to the buyer of the goods and used by Governments to determine the value of the package so customs duties may be assessed.

Consular Invoice
Only required in some countries and used much like the commercial invoice, to assess the duties and also allows the authorities to verify the nature of the shipment.

Destination Control Statement
This can appear on the commercial invoice, and ocean or air waybill of lading to notify the carrier and all foreign parties that the item can be exported only to certain destinations.

Dock Receipt/Warehouse Receipt
This is used to transfer accountability when the export item is moved by the domestic carrier to the port of embarkation and left with the shipping line for export.

Export License
This is a government document that authorises the export of specific goods in specific quantities to a particular destination.

Export Packing List
This is a very detailed and informative document (more so than a standard packing list) and itemises each individual item indicating the type of package (ie box, crate or carton). It lists the individual net, legal, tare and gross weights and measurements for each package in imperial and metric weights. This information is used by the shipper to determine the weight and volume of the cargo.

Inspection Certificate
This is usually performed by a third party organisation on behalf of some purchasers to prove the specifications of the shipment.

Insurance Certificate
Used to insure the cargo of the shipment should damage, loss or theft occurs during shipment.