waybill
WAY-bil
/ˈweɪ.bɪl/
A document issued by a carrier giving details and instructions relating to the shipment of a consignment of goods.
Serves as an operational document accompanying goods, stating origin, destination, route, and charges.
The story behind the word. Dating back to 18th-century stagecoach travel in England, when passengers and goods were listed on a paper 'bill for the way' kept by the driver along the post route.
Word relationships
- consignment note: Consignment note is used widely in European road transport, virtually synonymous with road waybill.
- shipping document: Shipping document is a broad general term encompassing invoices, manifests, and customs papers.
Commonly confused with
- bill of lading: A bill of lading represents legal ownership title of goods; a waybill is an unnegotiable transport receipt.
Word family
- waybills (noun): Plural form for multiple freight routing notices.
Collocations
- air waybill
- electronic waybill
- waybill number
- consignment waybill
Example sentences
- "The truck driver provided a signed waybill to confirm delivery of the electronics shipment." Freight receipt procedure
- "An electronic waybill contains scannable barcodes detailing weight, handling requirements, and destination." Express courier operations
Memory hook
WAY-BILL: The BILL that follows the cargo along its WAY. Document showing the cargo's way and details.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a bill of lading; a waybill is not a document of title or negotiable instrument.
Fun facts
- In international air freight, the Air Waybill (AWB) is standardized worldwide by IATA with an 11-digit tracking code.
Related words
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