MT B/L (Multimodal Transport B/L)

Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading (MT B/L) is a document issued by a Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO), which evidences a multimodal transport contract and the taking of goods in charge. It applies to the entire carriage involving at least two different modes of transport (e.g., sea + rail, sea + road), with the MTO assuming responsibility for the entire journey. Common use cases include imports and exports of landlocked countries, cross-border e-commerce logistics, and door-to-door transportation. Points to note: MT B/L is not a document of title and is generally non-negotiable unless explicitly marked as "negotiable"; it differs from the traditional Ocean Bill of Lading (O/B/L), which only covers the port-to-port sea segment; it differs from the Through Bill of Lading (Through B/L) in that the MT B/L is issued with the MTO assuming unified responsibility, whereas the Through B/L may involve different carriers assuming responsibility for separate segments. In addition, when settling by letter of credit, it is necessary to confirm whether the bank accepts MT B/L, as its nature as a non-document of title may increase the risk of payment collection.