Bill of lading field
How to describe goods on a bill of lading
Describe the goods the way the freight classification describes them, not the way your catalogue does. "Steel brackets, packaged" is a useful description. "Assorted SKUs" or a part number is not — it tells the carrier nothing they can rate on.
Why it matters
The description is what an inspector reads when they open the trailer, and what a claims adjuster reads when something arrives broken. It has to identify the goods to someone who has never seen your product.
The mistake that costs money
Writing an internal SKU or a vague catch-all. The carrier then guesses the class, and they do not guess in your favour — a vague description is one of the most reliable ways to earn a re-class.
Worth knowing
- Name the material and the form: "steel brackets, packaged", "plastic pipe fittings, boxed".
- Include the packaging. Loose, boxed, crated and palletised rate differently.
- Match the words to the classification entry you are claiming, not to your product page.
- Never write "general merchandise" or "assorted goods" on an LTL shipment.