Definition
The party that physically transports the goods and contracts to carry them, e.g. a shipping line or airline.
A carrier is the entity that undertakes to move the cargo and issues the contract of carriage — an ocean shipping line, airline, trucking company, or railway. The vessel-operating ocean carrier is sometimes called the actual or VOCC carrier.
The carrier is responsible for the goods during its leg of the journey under the terms of the bill of lading or waybill, subject to liability limits. Forwarders and NVOCCs may also act as contractual carriers without operating the equipment themselves.
Related terms
Freight Forwarder
An intermediary that arranges and coordinates the transport of goods on behalf of shippers and consignees.
NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier)
A carrier that issues its own bills of lading and sells ocean transport without operating the ships.
Shipper
The party that tenders the goods for shipment, named as consignor on the transport document.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
The carrier’s document that acts as a receipt for cargo, a contract of carriage, and a document of title.
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