HomeShipping Customs documentation AWB vs. BOL

Air waybill vs. bill of lading

Familiarize yourself with these vital import and export documents.

In the world of shipping and logistics, understanding the differences between air waybills (AWBs) and bills of lading (BOLs) is crucial for businesses operating in the supply chain, ecommerce, or any other industry requiring transportation of goods. These documents, while serving similar purposes, have key distinctions that can impact the way shipments are handled, tracked, and delivered. This guide will break down the essentials of AWBs and BOLs, covering everything from their definitions and contents to their differences and electronic forms.

Air waybills and bills of lading

Before defining these documents separately, it is important to note that while these documents are not interchangeable, they are both important transport documents. Any shipment by air or sea will need one or the other because they both serve similar purposes with slight—but important—differences.

Air waybills are actually a type of bill of lading; however, both are discussed as the two main types of transport documents. There are more BOL types, but since the order bill of lading is the most common, we will refer primarily to that BOL type in this guide.

Air waybills (AWB)

An AWB is a transport document issued by the carrier that accompanies air and ground shipments. It contains details about the shipment and provides tracking information. It also acts as a consignment note and shipment receipt.

An AWB can be paper or electronic. Most small package and integrated carriers accept electronic AWBs.

Bills of lading (BOL)

A BOL is a shipping document provided by the carrier that accompanies sea, train, and truck shipments. It contains detailed information about the contents of the shipment and also serves as a contract, receipt, and title document.

"Title” refers to ownership, meaning that possessing a title document can prove ownership of the shipment.

A BOL can be paper or electronic. Most small package and integrated carriers accept electronic BOLs.

Information AWBs and BOLs contain

The following is a list of information included on both types of documents:

Shipper name
Shipper address and contact information
Carrier name
Carrier address and contact or driver’s information (identification number, phone number, etc.)
Consignee name (the person the package is being delivered to)
Consignee address and contact information
Port or airport of loading
Port or airport of unloading
Carrier vehicle’s name and identification number (ship, airplane, truck, train, etc.)
Description of freight
Condition of freight
Identification marks on cargo
Number of pieces, packages, or pallets
Length, width, height, and weight of the shipment
Payment information
Terms of the contract

Differences between AWBs and BOLs

Other than the fact that their modes of transport (air and sea) differ, AWBs and BOLs have a few more addiontal key differences.

The table below outlines the important differences between the two documents, followed by an explanation of what each difference means. There is an explanation of each field below the table.

	AWB	BOL
Mode of transport	Air shipments	Sea, train, or truck shipments
Negotiability	Non-negotiable	Negotiable
Collection of goods	Original document not required	Original document required
Incoterms	All except Free on Board (FOB), Cost Insurance Freight (CIF), Free Alongside Ship (FAS), and Cost and Freight (CFR)	All
Copies required	Varies by carrier	3 original and 3 copies
Time of issuance from carrier	After departure from airport	After departure from port or station
Governing rules	Warsaw Convention, Hague Amendment, Montreal Convention	Hague Rules, The Hague-Visby Rules, and U.S. COGSA (U.S. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1936)
Shipment type (typically)	Business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B)	B2B

Mode of transport

AWB - For air shipments

BOL - For sea, train, and truck shipments

Negotiability

AWB (non-negotiable) - The AWB is a specific form stating that the goods are to be delivered to a specific consignee. It is a contract of transportation, not a title document (a document proving ownership of the shipment).

BOL (negotiable) - The BOL acts as a title document. The consignee can also endorse the BOL with a third party’s name, allowing ownership to be transferred and the shipment delivered to them instead. It acts as a contract of both transportation and ownership.

Collection of goods

AWB - A consignee can either pick up or have the goods delivered to them by providing a form of identification that proves they are the consignee listed on the sender’s AWB. They do not need the original AWB to collect the goods.

BOL - Receivers must submit the original copy of the BOL to prove ownership in order to collect the goods.

Incoterms

AWB - AWBs are used with EXW, FCA, CIP, CPT, DAP, DDP, and DPU Incoterms. They*_ are_ not* used with FAS, CFR, FOB, or CIF Incoterms.

BOL - BOLs can be used with all Incoterms.

See our cross-border terminology document for an explanation of each Incoterm.

Copies required

AWB - AWB shipments must be accompanied by multiple copies of the document. The number and the format (paper or electronic) of the copies vary by carrier.

BOL - BOL shipments must be accompanied by 3 originals and 3 copies.

Time of issuance

AWB - AWBs are issued by the carrier when the goods have been inspected and the cargo plane has taken off from the departure airport.

BOL - BOLs are issued by the carrier when the goods have been inspected and the cargo ship departs from the loading port.

Governing rules

Bills of lading and air waybills are subject to different international rules.

AWB - Governing International Regulations of Air Waybill:

BOL - Governing International Regulations of Bill of Lading:

Typical shipment type

AWB - Consumer shipments are most often sent by air and ground because they usually do not warrant a container-level load requiring sea transportation.

BOL - Commercial (B2B) shipments are typically sent via sea vessel, train, or truck due to the large size of the order.