# Bearer Bills of Lading

*Last updated: 2026-06-16*

> A bearer bill of lading is a shipping document that names no specific consignee; the right to claim the cargo belongs to whoever physically holds the original.

A bearer bill of lading is a shipping document that names no specific consignee; the right to claim the cargo belongs to whoever physically holds the original. Transfer requires nothing more than handing over the document—no endorsement, no notification to the carrier. This distinguishes it from an order bill of lading, which requires endorsement, and a straight bill of lading, which is non-negotiable and tied to a named party. The appeal is frictionless transferability during transit; the critical risk is that any holder—including a thief—can demand delivery of the goods. In current practice, most shipping lines decline to issue bearer bills, and documentary letters of credit together with electronic bills of lading have largely taken their place.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_lading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_lading)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Bearer Bills of Lading |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 117 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-16 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_lading |

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