subject: San Francisco Delivery Services And Bill Of Lading [print this page] At some point, almost every Bay Area business that requires the transportation of goods from one location to another will need a San Francisco delivery service for the shipping of packages, documents, or large freight. An airport delivery service may be necessary when shipping internationally. When shipping packages out of the country, there are a series of documents that are required before the shipper will proceed.
This is done to circumvent issues with customs and to protect all parties involved from liabilities. And naturally, in the post-911 world, security is a huge concern, and items enclosed in packages are all treated as being suspect, just in case. One of the forms required is known as a bill of lading (BOL), which a written, signed agreement between the San Francisco delivery service and the shipper.
Before accepting your shipment, a San Francisco delivery service should always require a bill lading. This agreement between the shipper and courier will contain several pieces of information, including but not limited to: the description of the good(s) to be shipped, the location of origin, the destination, shipping and receiving dates, and the shipping fees. Both the shipper and the courier will retain a copy of this document, so that all imports and exports can be monitored carefully. This is done for your protection as well as the protection of the shipping company, the receiver of the package, and any customs officials that may have to process this document for allowance into the country.
A Bill of Lading is required when shipping internationally because of the security involved when transporting goods across the border of another country. Customs agencies are very strict regarding these practices, for reasons given above. There are taxes and fees that apply, and the laws that govern importing/exporting require that all information is received and recorded. Local laws in additional to government or state laws may be different, but the need for the bill of lading is usually the same.
To avoid delays or issues with customs, the bill of lading is a necessary component of the proper paperwork you will need for documentation. Be sure when you fill out your portion of the bill, that all the information you provide is correct and accurate to the best of your ability. Any mistakes, intentional or otherwise, may cause hang ups down on the line. It's simply better to be safe than sorry, and consequently, taking extra time now will avoid headaches down the road.
