Home / Logistics Knowledge / LCL Original Bill of Lading and the House B/L
In LCL (less than container load) shipping, more than one shipper shares a container. The carrier issues only one bill of lading, so the forwarder issues its own document to each shipper. That is why the bill you receive is usually a house bill of lading rather than a carrier bill.
In FCL (full container load) there is one shipper and one contract, so the carrier issues the bill of lading directly to the shipper. LCL works differently. A consolidator books a whole container from the carrier in its own name, and the carrier issues a single master bill of lading covering the entire box.
The consolidator then issues a house bill of lading to each individual shipper. Two documents, two separate contracts of carriage. Your contract runs to the forwarder, and the forwarder's contract runs to the carrier.
| House B/L (HBL) | Master B/L (MBL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The consolidating forwarder | The carrier or its agent |
| Issued to | Each individual shipper | The consolidating forwarder |
| Covers | One shipper's consignment | Everything inside the container |
| Number | Forwarder's own reference, often tied to the MBL | Carrier's B/L number, traceable online |
| Freight basis | Per revenue ton or per shipment, including CFS handling | Per container, usually not disclosed to shippers |
| Who you claim against | The forwarder | The forwarder claims from the carrier, then settles with you |
This is the practical cost of the two-tier structure: to trace your box on the carrier's website you need the MBL number and the container number from your forwarder. The HBL number alone will not work there.
A house bill can be issued as an order bill and endorsed over, exactly like a carrier bill. The difference is that release sits with the forwarder's destination agent, who checks both layers before letting cargo go.
In practice LCL shipments lean more heavily on named bills and telex release than FCL does. The extra release check means an order bill buys you less control than it would on a full container.
An LCL container cannot be collected from the quay. It goes to a CFS (container freight station), where it is stripped and each consignment is separated by shipping marks and house reference. Only then is cargo released lot by lot.
| Stage | What happens | Typical charge |
|---|---|---|
| Deconsolidation | Container moved to CFS, stripped and sorted | CFS handling, sorting |
| Document exchange | Consignee swaps the HBL for a delivery order | Documentation fee |
| Import clearance | Entry filed at destination | Brokerage, examination costs |
| Storage | Charged per day once free time expires | Storage, ground rent |
| Collection | Cargo picked up or delivered | Pick-up, delivery |
FCL shipping defaults to order bills because endorsement transfers control cleanly. On LCL the transfer is weaker, so named bills and telex release are more common.
| Deal | Document to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of credit | Order HBL, full set of originals | Banks require a transferable original |
| Payment already received | Named HBL or telex release | Control does not need to move; speed matters more |
| Resale through a middleman | Order HBL, endorsed over | The final consignee changes mid-route |
| Long-term customer, DDP | Named HBL or non-negotiable waybill | Fewest steps, lowest document cost |
Because several shippers share one container. The carrier issues a single master B/L to the consolidating forwarder covering the whole box, and the forwarder issues a house B/L to each shipper. Each document is a separate contract of carriage.
The HBL. You use it to exchange for a delivery order at destination, and it is the document your claim rests on. The MBL governs the relationship between your forwarder and the carrier, and you normally only see it if you ask for a copy.
The forwarder that issued your house bill. You have no direct contract with the carrier. The forwarder settles with you under the HBL, then recovers from the carrier under the MBL.
Yes. A house bill can be issued as an order bill and endorsed over, and this is common in letter of credit trade. Note that release is still executed by the forwarder's destination agent, so the document carries less weight than it would on an FCL shipment.
Usually one to three days after an FCL container could be collected. The container has to be stripped and sorted at a CFS first, then you exchange documents and clear customs. Have the paperwork and payment ready before the vessel arrives.
Deconsolidation and sorting at the CFS, a documentation fee for the delivery order, storage once free time runs out, and collection or delivery. Ask for both origin and destination charge lists when you request a quote.
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