Shipping Documents Checklist
Every document you need for ocean freight — organized by shipment type, with deadlines and responsible parties
Missing one document delays your shipment by days. Missing the wrong one gets your cargo held at customs. This checklist covers every document for FCL, LCL, reefer, DG, and multimodal moves — who prepares it, who receives it, and when it's due.
8–12
Documents per FCL
Incomplete paperwork
Most common cause of delays
3–7 days
Average customs hold
Core Documents — Every Shipment Needs These
These six documents are required for virtually every ocean freight shipment, regardless of Incoterms or cargo type.
Documents by Shipment Type
Different shipment types require additional documents beyond the core six. Select your shipment type below.
fcl
doc1
doc2
doc3
doc4
Document Timeline — When to Prepare What
Timing is everything. Here's when each document should be ready relative to your shipment milestones.
phase1
phase2
phase3
phase4
phase5
5 Document Mistakes That Cost You Money
These are the errors we see freight forwarders deal with every week. All preventable.
mistake1
mistake2
mistake3
mistake4
mistake5
Shipping Documents — FAQ
Your next load, perfectly planned.
Start free. No credit card. No install.