MBL vs HBL: the master bill runs between the carrier and the NVOCC; the house bill runs between the NVOCC and the shipper. Your ISF quotes the house bill, and CBP matches it to the master.
What is a Master Bill of Lading?
The MBL names the forwarder, or its origin agent, as shipper, and the forwarder's destination office or agent as consignee. The forwarder then issues a house bill of lading (HBL) to each of its own customers.
Master vs. house bill of lading
- Issued by: the MBL by the vessel-operating carrier; the HBL by the NVOCC
- Parties shown: the MBL shows the forwarder and its agents; the HBL shows the actual exporter and importer
- How many: one MBL per container booking; one HBL per shipment, so several HBLs can sit under one MBL
- What it releases: the MBL releases the container from the carrier to the forwarder; the HBL releases the cargo from the forwarder to the consignee
Why you need both numbers
- ISF: your filing must quote the lowest-level bill of lading, which is the HBL number. CBP matches it to the MBL on the carrier's manifest, and a mismatch is a common cause of ISF rejections
- Tracking: carrier websites track by MBL or container number; the forwarder's portal tracks by HBL
- Release: to collect the cargo, the consignee surrenders the original HBL or receives a telex or express release; the forwarder handles the MBL release with the carrier
Consolidated (LCL) shipments
In LCL consolidation, one MBL covers the whole container while each shipper holds an HBL for its own cargo, so the MBL never shows the individual buyer and seller.
Airlift is an FMC-licensed NVOCC: it issues its own house bills of lading and holds the master bill with the carrier. See ocean freight and LCL shipping.
Related terms
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