The Purpose of a Bill of Lading, and Why Accuracy Matters

Symbols on a wooden crate illustrate handling instructions: a rain-protected umbrella, two upward arrows, and a fragile wine glass. These icons are crucial for understanding BOL Shipping guidelines. Blue diagonal stripes mark the right edge of the image.

Picture this: you’ve prepared a valuable shipment for pickup and have confidently filled out your Bill of Lading (BOL) only for your shipment to be delivered to the wrong address, costing you time and money. It’s easy to overlook a small detail on a BOL, especially when so many are required and even more if…

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What is a safety data sheet? 5 facts you should know.

A person in a reflective vest writes on a clipboard, possibly reviewing a safety data sheet, in a warehouse with shelves of goods in the background. The scene is partially overlaid with a blue geometric pattern.

Hazardous materials are highly regulated commodities in the shipping world and rightfully require diligent care during transit. One of the most important items required for hazmat shipping is a safety data sheet (SDS) — formerly known as a material safety data sheet (MSDS). These hazmat shipping papers are essential, and companies who ship or will…

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How To Manage Freight Fuel Surcharges and Cut Costs

A white semi-truck with a trailer drives on a highway at sunset, aiming to manage freight costs efficiently. The sun creates a bright glare, casting long shadows on the road, as another truck passes in the opposite lane under a clear sky with a warm golden hue.

Shippers of all sizes are constantly analyzing their expenditure and freight rates to protect their bottom line and save money. One fluctuating cost hike they battle throughout the year is freight fuel surcharge increases. Shippers can’t avoid these charges, but there are strategic ways to offset the costs and reduce spending. 5 Strategies To Offset…

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An Inaccurate Bill of Lading Can Put You at Risk

A clipboard with a bill of lading on it is placed against a split blue and orange background. A pencil lies to the right of the clipboard.

Every freight shipment transported by a carrier requires a bill of lading (BOL). A straight or non-negotiable BOL is evidence of a contract between you and the carrier and identifies the consignee as the owner of the goods. For that reason, it’s imperative that the information on the BOL is complete and accurate. Because a…

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What is FTL Freight?

A warehouse scene with cardboard boxes stacked on a pallet in front of an open shipping container. A blue circle with a white route map icon is overlaid on the left side of the image. Wooden pallets are visible nearby.

FTL freight is a shipment that fills the entire truck and/or is the only item on a truck. “Truckload” is one of those terms that gets used a lot in freight shipping. It’s also one of those terms that carry the potential for misunderstanding, in part because you’ll also come across its two modes: Full…

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A Freight Bill Audit Can Save You Money & Cut Costs

Two workers in a warehouse, both in hard hats. One holds a clipboard while pointing at a shelf, the other observes. Amidst industrial shelves and equipment of this small-business-shipping-hub, they laser-focus on inventory or inspection tasks to ensure efficient operations.

Have you ever looked at a freight bill and said, “Hey, wait a minute. Is that right?” You almost certainly have. We all take a second glance at our bills, whether for freight shipping or grocery shopping. But how often do you take a deeper look at the bill and analyze your spending, question costs…

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Guide to Freight Equipment Types for Full Truckload Shipping

A red semi-truck drives along a highway by a scenic lake at sunrise. Mountains and trees surround the road. Transparent arrows point forward across the image.

There are countless benefits to utilizing full truckload (FTL) services but choosing the right freight equipment types to book can be overwhelming. With so many equipment types to pick from, it ‘s easy to fall into the trap of booking the wrong trailer for your truckload shipping. Fortunately, with a third-party logistics (3PL) partner like…

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Freight Bill vs. Bill of Lading FAQs

A person in a high-visibility vest uses a tablet to manage shipping invoices in a warehouse. The background shows shelves with boxes, while blue and gray arrow graphics overlay the image, suggesting movement or progress.

It’s no secret that utilizing the freight shipping industry entails a lot of paperwork — including the ever-important freight bill and bill of lading (BOL). Both documents are used together to provide a complete view of your shipping agreement. Whereas a BOL is legally binding and acts as a formal shipping contract, a freight bill…

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How To Dispute Accessorial Charges After Invoicing

A man in a light blue shirt holds a clipboard and talks on the phone in a bustling small-business shipping hub. Shelves brimming with boxes fill the background, hinting at the warehouses lively operations.

It’s probably safe to say that as a shipper you would not lose any sleep if accessorial fees just disappeared. Poof!!! Especially those less-than-truckload (LTL) freight fees you feel were unfairly or mistakenly assessed. Worldwide Express is here to explain the most common freight shipping accessorial charges, give expert guidance on what options you have…

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NMFC Codes vs. Freight Class: Understand the Difference

In a bustling small-business-shipping-hub, a person in a yellow hard hat and orange safety vest wields a tablet with one hand, reaching up with the other. Metal shelving lines the warehouse, while blue arrows overlay the right side of the image.

In the shipping world, there are many terms that are used interchangeably. And unfortunately, there are many times when they shouldn’t be. Two such terms are NMFC codes and freight class. While they’re both very much related to each other, they are different. That’s why it’s important to understand each term and what it means…

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