The shipping manifest is a crucial transit document for any worldwide e-commerce that sends or receives items. The manifest is used to trace shipments, determine the delivery mode and provide the carrier with comprehensive information required to create an invoice.
How Is It Used?:
One of the papers used in international transportation and a crucial one in international trade is the shipping manifest.
The list of products to be transported enables the carrier’s total quantity of boxes to be confirmed. It contains facts on the number of products, the type of package being delivered, and the sender and receiver.
Additionally, it acts as a means of identifying the goods that must be delivered to each consignee.
How does a Shipping Company use it?
A manifest for each shipment that has to be made will be requested when you employ a shipping service to convey your goods.
This document will identify the goods they need to move, confirm the number of parcels, and determine their final destination. The manifest will also be used to generate the shipment’s invoice.
We advise printing a manifest so it may be signed and used as evidence of the number of boxes the carrier has gathered.
Difference between Shipping Manifest & Other Documentation?
The shipping manifest is one of the papers used in transporting products within international trade.
It is often provided directly to the carrier, so they know the shipment’s specifics and can count the parcels that need to be transported. Every cargo that may be traced must have a reference number on the manifest.
But do you understand what makes the manifest unique from other transit documents? We will explain it to you here.
Delivery note:
The recipient must sign a receipt for the delivery note to be considered genuine as proof that the buyer has received the goods.
The delivery note supports the removal of particular items from the warehouse and their delivery, although it is not a legal document.
We advise you to ask the carrier for a signed copy. Thus, you have documentation of the items’ arrival. To demonstrate that you received the item, however, if you are the buyer, ensure to sign the delivery note.
Bill of Lading:
A bill of lading (B/L) is a record carrier used to prove when goods have been received and sent.
This document should detail the amount of the freight. It also includes if it has already been paid or has to be paid upon delivery.
Packing List:
A list of the items being carried may be found on the packing list. Although it is comparable to the commercial invoice, it excludes pricing.
This document entails:
- the weight of the goods
- the invoice number
- the number of boxes
- the product description
Typically, a document is created in triplicate and sent immediately to the receiver so that he may inspect the delivery.
Picking List:
For the warehouse to prepare an order, a picking list is a document sent straight to them. It helps to handle items more effectively and speed up the preparation process.
You must add facts about the items, such as their location in the warehouse and delivery information, to this list.
A choosing list containing the items you want the business to send will need to be made each time you need to make a shipment. To save time, you can combine many orders into one list.
Making a Shipping Manifest:
You need to follow a few rules while preparing a shipping manifest. We advise you to get a shipping manifest sample before producing one so that you know the information you must include.
You may also download a template for a shipping manifest and fill it out with information about your products.
A manifest must contain the following details:
- Size and kind of Package sent
- Document number
- Information about the Receiver & things to be transported
- Shipping Methods
- Transport Route
- Details about the Sender
The carrier will use this information to create an invoice for the shipment and confirm that the goods correspond to the paperwork.
Different Types of Manifest:
Cargo Manifest:
All information about the shipment, except freight costs, is listed in the cargo manifest.
Freight Manifest:
All relevant information about the shipment, including the freight costs, is listed in the freight manifest. The shipper or consignee is responsible for paying any fees listed in the manifest.
Dangerous Cargo Manifest:
This manifest lists any dangerous cargo that is traveling with the ship. This ship handles the class, UN number, description of goods, EMS/MFAG, and other information.
Out of Gauge Manifest:
A manifest that lists the ship’s out-of-gauge (abnormally big) goods is called an out-of-gauge manifest. It includes the cargo’s out-of-gauge details.
Reefer Manifest:
A manifest listing the ship’s cargo, with information on temperature settings, humidity levels, and any containers that need onboard monitoring, such as those for cold storage, is provided.
Why is a shipping manifest important?
A shipping manifest is crucial since it performs a variety of tasks. Getting your goods from point A to point B securely and intact is the focus of most operations. A more accurate BoL will result in a better shipping manifest since manifests are created using information from BoLs.
Consider the following scenario. You are bringing in porcelain vases from Japan in containers labeled Fragile and equipped with positioning pointers. Special instructions are not added to the shipping manifest due to the BoL’s absence of care handling information.
Your containers share space with grain bins thrown around randomly, and just a few pieces make it through the trip. The cost is still your responsibility.
Everyone participating in international trade is safeguarded by a clear and accurate shipping manifest. The physical safety of everyone involved depends on knowing the kind and quantity of everything on a ship, and it also helps to clear customs at every port more smoothly.
What If the Shipping Manifest holds a Mistake?
A mistake may occur despite your best efforts and several reviews of your papers. Sometimes a difference is introduced by a last-minute change that cannot be fixed before the manifest is created.
The most frequent mistake is when an item is listed on the manifest but never ships. This blunder, often known as “manifested-not-shipped,” is expensive. It generally occurs when products are abruptly added to or removed from a shipment. The carrier receives a new manifest document, but the previous one is not revoked. If you need to correct the error by placing a second order, there is a high risk that you may be charged twice for the item.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to make a shipping manifest for your online store. You can get aid from Custom Crating and Logistics.
You can generate a shipping manifest for your online store using Custom Crating and Logistics. Stop wasting time making manifests for various shipments. With Custom Crating and Logistics, automate the procedure and save time!
