A waybill is sometimes referred to as a bill of lading. Such a document is commonly used in the shipping industry. Its primary purpose is to provide information about a shipment. In may also act as a receipt for the payment or rendering of shipping services. Such documents are commonly used for shipments by road, boat, or air.
When a person plans to ship something, she will generally need a waybill. This is usually made available by the shipper as a paper form or it may be made available online as an electronic form. In most instances, it will be filled out by the shipper.
The type of information requested on a waybill can vary depending on the shipping company and the means of shipment. There is some information, however, that is standard. To begin with, details about the shipper are usually requested. These may include her name, address, and telephone number.
The shipper may have the option of choosing from several shipping methods. For example, a company may offer choices between standard and expedited services. She may be able to choose between land or air delivery. Such a form may also offer a shipper the option of additional services, such as e-mail delivery confirmation or signed delivery.
Once the shipper has indicated all of her shipping preferences, there may be a space where an agent of the shipping company will indicate the cost for the service and whether it has been paid. If the shipping costs are to be paid by the receiver, this may be indicated.
In order for the package to be received, however, the receiver needs to be identified. Some companies allow a business to be named as the receiver on a waybill. Others require a specific individual’s name, even when a company name is provided. The address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the receiver are also commonly requested.
When a waybill is in paper form, it generally has multiple copies. One may be retained by the agent who picks up or accepts the package. A second copy is generally given to the shipper. Another copy is often attached to the shipment. This copy should eventually become the property of the receiver. A forth copy may be taken by the company agent that completes the delivery.
Many waybills contain tracking codes. These allow the progress of the shipment to be monitored. It is also common for the terms and conditions of shipment to be listed on the back of each copy of the waybill.