What is an express seawaybill or express bill of lading?

Similar to an original bill of lading, an express sewaybill or express bill of lading is an ocean shipping document. This document confirms the carrier’s receipt of the cargo and details the cargo being shipped, the weight of the cargo, the container number the cargo is loaded in, and the origin and destination for the cargo’s journey. If you request an express seawaybill to be issued for your ocean shipment, the document will be generated and emailed to the shipper once the vessel sails. Unlike an original bill of lading, this document is not required to be surrendered in order for the consignee to recover the cargo at the destination terminal or port. This allows for a more efficient recovery of the cargo and cuts down on the cost of sending original documents in order to release cargo. The downside is that if you have not been paid for your cargo yet there is no way to hold the cargo and the consignee will have access to the cargo at the destination port or terminal once it arrives.

Exfreight will automatically generate express seawaybills. If you require an original bill of lading for your shipment please request it before the shipment is picked up.