Bill of lading field
Handling units vs packages on a bill of lading
Handling units are the things the driver physically moves. Two pallets is two handling units, even when there are 48 cartons stacked on them — those 48 are the package count. The two numbers describe the same freight at two different levels and carriers price on the first one.
Why it matters
Handling units drive the price. A carrier quotes and charges on how many things have to come off the truck, not on how many boxes are inside the shrink wrap.
The mistake that costs money
Writing 48 in the handling units box because there are 48 cartons. The carrier now believes it is collecting 48 loose cartons, prices it that way, and re-bills you for the difference when the driver finds two pallets — or worse, arrives with the wrong equipment.
Worth knowing
- Handling units: 2 pallets. Packages: 48 cartons. Both go on the document.
- A pallet and a loose carton are handled and priced completely differently, so the unit type matters as much as the count.
- The receiving clerk checks the package count against what is on the pallet — that is what the inner number is for.
- If the pallets are wrapped and the driver cannot verify the inner count, that is a shipper load and count situation.