Document type
Bill of lading vs packing slip: what is the difference?
They are not the same document and they are not interchangeable. The bill of lading is the contract of carriage and the carrier's receipt for the freight — it exists for the relationship between you and the carrier. The packing slip is a list of what is inside, and it exists for the person unpacking it.
Why it matters
Only one of them is evidence. If freight is lost or damaged, the signed bill of lading is what the claim runs on. A packing slip proves nothing about what the carrier collected.
The mistake that costs money
Handing the driver a packing slip and treating it as the shipping document. There is then no signed receipt for the freight, no contract of carriage, and no basis for a claim.
Worth knowing
- BOL: contract and receipt, signed by the driver, describes handling units and weight.
- Packing slip: contents list, goes inside or on the carton, describes items and quantities.
- Ship both. They answer different questions for different people.
- The packing slip is not a commercial invoice either — that is a third document.