2.1 BILL OF LADING

• International rules governing bills of lading are described in the source as the Hamburg Rules, which replaced the earlier Hague-Visby Rules.
• Bills of lading are issued by shipping companies and form part of the documentation used in international trade.
• They help ensure suppliers are paid and customers receive the goods to which they are entitled.
• Basic process described: the bill of lading is sent to a bank in the destination country; the customer pays the amount due and receives the bill; the bill can then be presented to the vessel's master so the goods can be released.
• Three main purposes:
• Receipt from the carrier/shipping company to the sender for the goods being shipped.
• Documentary evidence of the contract of carriage, incorporating the carrier's conditions of contract.
• Document of title to the goods; lawful possession of the bill represents ownership, and ownership may be transferred by endorsement.
• Clean bill of lading:
• Confirms that the goods were received on board in good condition.
• Dirty bill of lading:
• A 'claused' bill stating that the goods were not received on board in good condition.
• A dirty bill can be difficult to sell to another party.

2.2 HOUSE BILL OF LADING

• Issued by freight forwarders when undertaking groupage operations.
• Each individual consignor receives a separate house bill of lading.
• The bill is forwarded to the consignee, who uses it to apply to the forwarder's destination-country agent for delivery.
• Unlike the carrier's bill, the house bill is not a negotiable document of title.
• Its main purpose is to act as a control document for the goods.

2.3 CONSULAR INVOICE

• Required by the customs formalities of certain countries when goods are imported.
• For UK exports to countries requiring one, the exporter produces an invoice for the transaction in the language of the destination country.
• The details are checked and authenticated by that country's consulate or embassy in the UK.
• The authenticated consular invoice is then presented with the import documentation at the destination.

2.4 CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN

• Used to prove where goods originated.
• In the UK, certificates of origin are issued by Chambers of Commerce.
• The source describes them as a three-part document.
• They must be completed by the proprietor, Company Secretary or a director of the company involved.
• They categorically confirm the origin of the goods.
• Certificates must be supported by commercial invoices or other documentary evidence.
• A special certificate of origin is required for trade with Arab states and must be certified by the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

2.5 SITPRO

• SITPRO stood for 'Simplification of International Trade Procedures'.
• It was a government organisation previously associated with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
• The source describes SITPRO as now defunct.
• Its function was to develop international-trade documentation aligned to a standard United Nations layout key.
• It produced simplified, standard documents.

2.6 DE SUIVI - FOLLOW-UP DOCUMENT

• UK drivers of both hire-and-reward and own-account goods vehicles entering France to deliver goods must be able to produce a de suivi document.
• The source states that it is not required for transit vehicles.
• There is no official or formal layout.
• The necessary information may be incorporated into a CMR document, provided all required information is available.
• Information required:
• Operator and vehicle details – name, VAT number and vehicle registration number.
• Loading details – collection address, driver's name, date and time of loading, etc.
• Unloading details – unloading location, driver's name, date and time of unloading.

2.7. BILL OF EXCHANGE

• A bill of exchange is a written request for payment and is similar in some respects to an invoice.
• It specifies who owes the money and to whom it is payable.
• Unlike an ordinary invoice, the customer promises to pay in settlement.
• It is a 'negotiable instrument', meaning it can be bought and sold by other parties.
• In international trade, the source also describes it as:
• A receipt for goods from a shipping line when loaded on board.
• Evidence that a contract of shipment exists.
• A document of title indicating ownership of the goods.

2.8 MINIMUM WAGE DOCUMENT

• Certain European countries require hauliers undertaking international operations to provide evidence that minimum-wage requirements are being met.
• Countries listed in the source: Austria, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
• Austria:
  • Cabotage and bilateral point-to-point international transport operations, excluding transit, must be registered electronically.
  • A copy of the electronic notification, employment contract and proof of pay must be carried on the vehicle and produced on request.
• France:
  • Drivers engaged in international or cabotage operations, but not transit, must carry an attestation form describing the work and a paper copy of the employment contract with French translation.
  • Foreign hauliers are also required by the source to have a French representative for possible disputes.
• Germany:
  • Operators must post or fax the stated Form 033038 mobil to Customs confirming drivers meet German minimum-wage requirements.
  • The source says the process may also be completed online and applies to local and foreign transport operators carrying out relevant transport activities in Germany, excluding transit.
• Italy:
  • Cabotage must be pre-declared using the stated form 24 hours before the first cabotage operation.
  • A rough translation is also required to be carried out.
• Netherlands:
  • Required for cabotage, but there is no declaration form; information is requested from the employer if the driver is stopped and evidence is required.