B/L

Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Maritime

B/L
Stands forBill of lading
CategoriesTransportation & Travel

B/L stands for Bill of lading, a maritime abbreviation.

Document issued by a carrier to a shipper acknowledging receipt of goods for shipment, stating the terms of carriage and serving as a document of title that can be transferred to sell the cargo in transit.

Example: The bank released payment only after receiving the original B/L from the exporter.

Usage notes

Also written BOL in the US. An "original" negotiable bill of lading must be surrendered to collect the goods, which is why lost bills cause costly delays. Electronic bills of lading are increasingly accepted under recent legal reforms, such as the UK's Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023.

More maritime abbreviations

  • AB – Able Seaman
  • AIS – Automatic Identification System
  • ARPA – Automatic radar plotting aid
  • COG – Course over ground
  • COLREGS – International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
  • CPA – Closest point of approach
  • DR – Dead reckoning
  • DSC – Digital selective calling
  • DWT – Deadweight tonnage
  • ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display and Information System
  • EPIRB – Emergency position-indicating radio beacon
  • FCL – Full container load

See all 61 maritime abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.