The entire F2F logistics process, including transportation logistics, customs formalities, and shipment tracking, is managed by a single point of contact – your logistics service provider, who works in cooperation with their network of trusted partners at origin and destination.

In order to protect your interests and keep prospective buyers from contracting directly with your suppliers, we will use a Switch Bill of Lading.  This means the original BoL will be replaced prior to delivery to the buyer with a second bill, called a Switch BoL.  On the Switch BoL, the wholesaler’s name will appear as the shipper and all of the details about the manufacturer will be removed.

Switching bills is a very common practice in international trade, where a request is made to substitute the original Bill of Lading issued at the time of shipment with a revised second set of documents, called a Switch Bill of Lading, prior to delivery to the consumer.   While there are many reasons to do so, a Switch BoL is usually requested by traders who wish to protect the identity of their suppliers and consignees.

Switch BoLs may be requested for a few reasons, including:

• Changes to the original trading conditions
• The goods have been resold to another party
• The location of the port of discharge has changed
• The seller does not want the consignee to know the identity of the exporter (to prevent the consignee from buying the product directly from the exporter)
• The seller does not want to disclose the actual country of origin to the buyer

Only the following items can be modified in the Switch BoL:

• Shipper name
• Consignee name
• Notify party details
• Description of the cargo

All other details must remain the exactly as they appear on the original Bill of Lading.

As the BoL represents ownership of the cargo, only the company holding the full set of documents – the cargo owner or principal party in interest – may request a Switch BoL.  All requests for Switch BoL’s should be made in writing, and a letter of indemnity, signed by the principal party in interest (and counter-signed by a bank, if deemed necessary by the agent), should also be included with the request.

A Switch BoL may only be approved by the carrier or logistics service provider, who will carefully examine the differences between the original BoL and the switched bill.

It is important to note that once the Switch BoL is approved and prior to being released, the initial BoL must be surrendered for cancellation so that there is only one set of documents in circulation.

The carrier will issue the Switch BoL once they receive the initial set of documents, prior to the cargo’s arrival to port.

It is important to note:

• Before releasing the Switch BoL, the initial BoL must be collected and cancelled before the replacement set is produced and issued so that there is only one set of documents in force
• The Switch BoL cannot be released until all the terms and conditions of the first transaction [between the initial seller (manufacturer) and first buyer (wholesaler)] have been legally satisfied. Once payment has been made in full and all trade terms have been satisfied, the carrier will issue the Switch BoL
• A new invoice and packing list should be issued showing the wholesaler as the supplier and the buyer as the consignee to keep consistency with the new Switch BoL as well as to avoid exposing the supplier’s identity
• The commercial sell rate of your product will be taken from the buyer’s commercial invoice upon entry to the destination country, notthe rate shown on the manufacturer’s invoice.

The BoL may be switched anywhere, as long as the carrier, logistics service provider, or their agent has an office or coverage in the country where the Switch BoL is requested.

In most cases, a Switch BoL should be requested no later than three working days prior to arrival at port of destination.  However, some shipping lines may require more than three days’ notice for certain destinations; therefore, it is highly recommended to check the deadline with the carrier to avoid incurring additional storage and demurrage charges at the destination port.

Switch BoLs do not contain any references to the original BoL, and there is nothing to indicate that the bill has been switched.  That being said, the consignee may ask the carrier whether the bills were switched, and the carrier can, at their discretion, answer the question, although they cannot disclose any further details other than the fact that the bill was switched.

To ensure your shipment goes smoothly, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Be sure to tell your logistics service provider if you want your shipment to be neutral (i.e., we will withhold your manufacturer’s details by using a Switch Bill of Lading.
• A Switch Bill of Lading is not valid for all shipments.
• Consider an adequate cargo insurance policy to protect your shipment in the event of loss or damage.
• If shipping neutral, check to make sure your cargo insurance includes coverage for a Switch BoL.
• Understand the benefits of any free trade agreements between the country of origin and the destination country.
• Ensure you use the best incoterm to suit your shipment.