GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Shipper
The shipper is the party that tenders a consignment for carriage – typically a manufacturer, trader, or private individual – and bears responsibility for correct packaging and documentation until handover to the carrier.
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Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shipper.asp
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The shipper is the party that tenders a consignment for carriage – typically a manufacturer, trader, or private individual – and bears responsibility for correct packaging and documentation until handover to the carrier. In day-to-day freight operations, the shipper selects the transport mode, commissions shipping documents such as the bill of lading or air waybill, and arranges collection from the dispatch location. On export declarations, the shipper is identified as the exporter or declarant. The shipper differs from the freight forwarder, who acts on the shipper's behalf without necessarily being party to the contract of carriage; the term consignor is sometimes used interchangeably but can carry different contractual implications under applicable transport law.
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