Freight glossaryFreight DocumentationFreight
Shipper
Definition
The shipper is the party that tenders goods for transportation, usually the seller; in trucking the shipper is also called the consignor.
What it means
The FHWA glossary defines the shipper as the "party that tenders goods for transportation" and the consignor as "the sender of a freight shipment, usually the seller."[1] The shipper and consignee are named on the bill of lading.
The shipper's choices at origin, such as how the freight is packed, loaded, counted and secured, often decide who answers for problems later. A shipper load and count notation, for example, limits the carrier's liability for improper loading.[2]
Example
A manufacturer in Pennsylvania loads a trailer for a customer in New Jersey. The manufacturer is the shipper (consignor) on the bill of lading and the customer is the consignee.
Related
Related terms
- ConsigneeThe consignee is the party a shipment is sent to, usually the buyer; the receiver is the facility where it is...Glossary
- Bill of LadingA bill of lading (BOL) is the document a carrier issues for freight it receives: a receipt for the goods and...Glossary
- Shipper Load and CountShipper load and count (SLC or SL&C) is a bill of lading notation meaning the shipper loaded and counted the...Glossary
- Freight BrokerA freight broker arranges truck transportation for compensation, for shippers or carriers, without being the...Glossary
Sources
- Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, “Freight Glossary,” Government glossary. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “49 U.S. Code § 80113, Liability for nonreceipt, misdescription, and improper loading,” Federal statute. Accessed September 30, 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.