This post is about shipping manifests, the types, and benefits of Shipping manifest document
I think by doing this I’ll be providing valuable content for small and large companies afraid to set in up their own business due to the lack of information on shipping manifests and the fear of dealing with those forms.
My goal is to explain the formats from A-Z and anything that is related to shipping manifests by providing tips, tools, lessons learned, and example scenarios.
A shipping manifest is one of the important documents, which are crucial for the transportation of goods and merchandise.
Shipping manifest Document Meaning
Shipping Manifest is a document that shows details regarding all the goods moved through a single flight, voyage or lane. It acts as proof of shipping and delivery of goods from one place to another and includes information about their exact quantity and volume.
This document is mandatory when shipping any export or import goods from one port to another. Shipping manifests or cargo manifests are required in a large number of transactions.
Shippers use the shipping manifest (or cargo manifest) to keep track of their shipments, while receivers can use it to verify they’ve received everything they were expecting.
So it is very important to have a complete list of each and every document regarding your company.
NB: Don’t get it twisted, shipping manifest is the same as the customs manifest, cargo manifest etc where it relates to either sea or air shipping operations.
Different Types of shipping manifests
The shipping manifests are used for different types of transportation including ocean cargo, air cargo, trucking and rail.
Freight manifest: This document contains information on the shipment as well as the freight rates. The manifest charges are paid by the shipper or consignee.
Out of gauge manifest: The manifest that lists the gauge cargoes on board the ship.
Reefer manifest: This type of manifest provides information on the reefer cargoes on board the ship, such as humidity and temperature settings. It also keeps track of the containers that need to be monitored on board.
Dangerous cargo manifest: List the specifics of hazardous cargo on board, including the class, UN number, description of commodities, EMS/FAG, and so on.
Shipment manifest: provides every information about the cargo except the freight rates.
Features of a shipping manifest
The manifest must be filled out by the shipper, but can also be used by customs officials at the destination country to verify that everything arrived safely.
A typical manifest will have the below details:
Details of the:
- Cargo
- Shipper
- Consignee
- Weight
- Measurement
- Packing
- Origin and destination
- Document number
Difference between bill of lading and cargo manifest
In general, a bill of lading serves as a legal instrument focusing on and documenting such issues as ownership, whereas a cargo manifest is often more concerned with physical aspects of the cargo, such as weight and size.
Benefits of using a shipping manifest
The bill of lading is an important document, as it gives you complete knowledge of your shipment. You can track the movement of your package and monitor its progress through all stages. It will also serve as evidence in case anything goes wrong, such as when an accident occurs in transit or if there is a dispute over payment between sender and receiver.
When to create the shipping manifest?
It is important to note that the shipping manifest should be created before the goods are loaded. The reason for this is that the shipping manifest contains information about how your shipment will be packed and where it will go, so it is important that this information is as accurate as possible before anything goes into a box or container.
Once you have created your shipping manifest, you can print out copies for each member of your staff who will need access to it during transit.
Gathering the data for the shipping manifest
- The first step in shipping is to gather the required data. This includes:
- The number of packages you are shipping
- The weight of each package
- The type (size and shape) of each package
- Where your packages are coming from, and where they’re going to
- Customer identification information (name, address, etc.)
- Tax information
- Shipping method (ground or air)
- Shipping charges
- You should also consider whether you’d like to add any additional items to your shipment. For example, if you’re sending a gift package with flowers or food items inside it that need to stay cold during transit, then having them shipped by ground rather than air will help ensure their freshness when they reach their final destination. Other important factors include prohibited items, insurance coverage for lost shipments or damaged goods during transit. Finally, make sure that all details about how payment should be handled have been provided for the carrier ahead of time!
Verifying the accuracy of the information in the shipping manifest
The accuracy of the information in the shipping manifest is important to get right. You should verify it with your shippers, who can share their policies and procedures for ensuring its accuracy. If you’re not sure how to do this or where to find them on websites like FedEx, see our guide “How to Verify Your Shipping Manifest Data Accuracy.”
Delivery of the package
Once your package has reached its destination, it is signed off by the recipient. If the recipient is unavailable to sign for the package, then the courier service will attempt to deliver it again or leave a note for pickup at an alternate location. In some cases, if a person refuses to accept a delivery from their home or business, the courier service may return it to you instead of marking it as undeliverable/refused.
If there’s damage on arrival (DaoR), either during transit or upon opening your box, then you have options:
- You can request that they send another copy of your item(s) after repairs are made
- You can file a claim with FedEx Claims Management Services and ask them what they recommend that you do next
- You can file an insurance claim
You can use a shipping manifest for many purposes.
You can use a shipping manifest for many purposes, such as:
- Tracking packages. If you want to know where your shipment is at any given time, a shipping manifest can help you with that. The information on it will tell you how long it’s been in transit and how long it will take before the package arrives at its destination.
- Identifying items in a shipment. A manifest will often include details about each item inside the package, such as its weight and dimensions. This may be helpful if something goes wrong with one or more of the items (e.g., if they get damaged during transport).
- Providing additional details about an order being shipped out from an online store like Amazon FBA or eBay FBA warehouse so that customs officials don’t ask for more paperwork when clearing shipments through international borders; also helps accounting departments keep track of inventory levels/stockpiles by letting them know exactly how many units have been sold vs sent out already so there won’t be any surprises later down line when randomly checking back on old orders and finding out there isn’t enough left anymore…
