The shipping process, whether local or interstate, contains both legal and logistical components that sellers and buyers must consider. One of the most important documents integral to car shipping is the Bill of Lading (BOL). This document assists in safeguarding the shipment while also enabling ease of tracking and serves as a contract between the car owner and the shipping company. This article aims to elaborate the concept of Bill of Lading, its significance and detail the reasons you ought to care about it especially while shipping your car.
What is a Bill of Lading in Car Shipping?
As with any other type of shipping, a car shipping company requires a legal document known as a Bill of Lading (BOL) detailing the terms of transport contract between a the car owner (A) – consultee, and referred to as the shipper, and the car shipping company (B) – Supplier, referred to as the carrier. A BOL serves these three primary functions.
– Proof of Ownership: This piece of evidence proves that the car being shipped is owned by the Shipper and has been in his/her possession until taken over by the shipping company for transport.
– Receipt of Shipment: This works as a receipt that the vehicle slated for delivery has been loaded on the carrier.
– Instructions for Dispatching: The BOL has salient information which includes the transportation processes, deadlines, and specific instructions relevant for the vehicle’s shipping.
Think of Bill of Lading as a legal bound document that captures all the fundamental aspects for the shipper and the carrier detailing their rights and responsibilities. This document contains information that can help resolve disputes that may pop up during the transportation period.
In what ways is the Bill of Lading useful in vehicle transportation?
The Bill of Lading is useful as a point of reference throughout the shipping process. Listed below are the reasons why this document is important:
- Legal Safeguard
The Bill of Lading is sufficient legal proof if something goes wrong when a vehicle is in transit. It highlights the vehicles condition upon collection and in addition, guarantees that the shipping company faces legal consequences if anything bad happens while they are in charge of the vehicle. A shipping trust has to be thoroughly vetted before any contract can be signed.
- Achieves Consensus
In agreements, an automobile owner and a shipping entity come into a contract where the BOL becomes the guiding agreement. With this document, there will not goodwill disputes due to the description of the vehicle’s make, model, year, color, and current condition.
- Acts as a Proof of Delivery
When driving the car to its destination, the car’s Bill of Lading serves as proof that the car has been delivered in the condition agreed upon. At the point of delivery, both the driver and the recipient append their signatures on the BOL in order to acknowledge that the car was delivered successfully without any issues.
- Monitors the Shipment
The bill of Lading possesses some tracking details that allow the shipper and the shipping company to track the car in transit. This aids in tracking the status of your vehicle during those intervals in the transport process.
Primary Components of a Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading is not just a simple form; it has continued to gain significance over the years due to its details focusing on avoiding issues that arise during the transportation of cars. Here is a summary of the elements defined in a car shipping BOL:
- Details of the Shipper and Recipient
– Shipper’s Name: Refers to an individual or firm that is setting out the vehicle.
– Recipient’s Name: Refers to an individual or firm that is receiving the vehicle.
– Contact Information: Includes the phone number and addresses of both the shipper and recipient.
- Vehicle Information
– Make, Model, Year: The BOL will contain Make, Model and, Year which involve capturing the name of the car, its model and the year it was manufactured.
– VIN: This gives the unique VIN for this car to ensure the car is uniquely identified.
– Condition of the Vehicle: A section that describes the features and damages that are already present on the vehicle before it gets picked up.
- Shipping
– Pickup and Delivery Dates: The BOL will have dates of when the car is picked up and when it is expected to be delivered to the new location.
– Shipping Route: This contains information on the delivery route, and if there are any layovers.
– Type of Transport: The BOL will mention the type of trailer that the car will delivered in. This would be either open or enclosed.
- Terms and Conditions
– Liabilities: This section specifies what parts each side is responsible for, in regard to accidents, damages, and delays.
– Insurance Coverage: Most of BOL will cover the information to which the scope of liability of the shipping firm as well as the other insurances that are offered.
– Additional Costs: Make sure to identify any other costs if they add charges for urgent shipment, terminal to terminal shipment, or more attention given to the vehicle.
How to Review Your Bill of Lading
As a car owner, you must analyze the details of the Bill of Lading that the car shipping company provides to you upon receipt. Here is what you need to pay attention to:
- Check the Condition of the Vehicle
Examine the condition noted on the car to see if it corresponds with the actual condition. You should inspect the car’s external surfaces, including but not limited to scratches, dents, and stains. Also try and take photographs of these regions to support your position with the car shipping company.
- Verify Shipment Information
Check if the shipping information, including the shipping route, pickup, and delivery dates are in accordance with the contract made with the shippers. In case of any differences, please contact your shipping company to sort these issues out.
- Review the Fee Section
Review the fees section of the Bill of Lading and try to find any overlooked fees or charges. You should get in touch with your car shipping company if you feel anything needs more explanation. For example, few ship vehicles during their advertised business hours and reserve the rest of the duration for other services, therefore charging extra for what could be considered expedited services.
- Clarify Concerns Regarding Coverage
The BOL should include the insurance terms for the car shipping service. Consider getting extra insurance protection for your automobile if it is rare or particularly expensive. Doing so means a greater level of security against loss or damage during transportation.
Steps to Take After Receiving BOL
After shipping your car, the BOL acts as an important document. After delivering the vehicle to you, they will ask for you to sign the BOL as an affirmation of receipt of the vehicle. Store the signed bill of lading in the appropriate document folder.
In the event that you have a concern regarding the condition of the vehicle after delivery, the signed BOL will greatly aid you when you need to make a claim or discuss how to resolve disputes with the vehicle shipping company.
Conclusion
The BOL serves an integral function in transporting a vehicle. It contains information about the agreement of service to be rendered which includes the state of the vehicle at the time of shipping, and delivery instructions. Going through the BOL before shipment enables one to avert potential conflicts that may arise during the course of the shipment.
Just like with any shipment, when shipping cars, it is essential to read and comprehend every detail of the contract, especially the Bill of Lading which looks very critical in the continuum of transportation logistics because it enables oversight in monitoring the moves made on an automobile.
At Car Shipping Source, car shipping services were designed, keeping in mind their simplicity while still ensuring as much detail and information is made accessible. We urge you give us a call today to receive a custom quote on your desired car shipping service.
