Which statement about the bill of lading is true?

• A. It is solely a receipt for goods on board.
• B. It is solely evidence of the contract of carriage.
• C. It is a document evidencing carriage and title to goods.
• D. It is a packing list.

Answer: (C)

A bill of lading serves multiple roles, with the most important being its function as a document that covers both the carriage of goods and the ownership rights to those goods. This means it evidences the contract of carriage—the carrier’s obligation to transport the goods—and, in many cases, acts as a document of title that can be transferred to others to claim possession of the goods. That combination is what makes the statement about carriage and title the best description. It’s true that a bill of lading also serves as a receipt for goods loaded on board, but describing it only as a receipt omits the contract and title aspects. A packing list, by contrast, is a separate document listing contents and isn’t the bill of lading.