1. According to whether the goods have been shipped, can be divided into on board bill of lading (SHIPPED ON BORAD B / L) and alternate bills of lading (RECEIVEDFOR SHIPMENT B / L). The former is issued after the goods have been loaded on the bill of lading, which means the carrier has taken over the goods and preparing bills of lading issued by the time of shipment, it is also called a bill of lading received for shipment. In the trade contract, the buyer generally require the seller to provide on board bill of lading, because the bill of lading on board ship with its name and date of receipt of the consignee on time guaranteed.

2. According to the apparent condition of the goods whether the adverse comments, the bill of lading can be divided into clean bill of lading (CLEANB / L) and unclean (UNCLEAN OR FOUL B / L). The former refers to the surface when loading the goods in good condition, generally without adding significant that the goods and / or defective packaging endorsement of the bill of lading. In foreign trade, bank for safety reasons, when the negotiation of payment are required to provide clean bill of lading. The latter refers to the carrier in the bill of lading the goods have been filling and / or defective packaging in poor condition or the bill of lading and other comments.

3. According to different transport modes, can be divided into direct bill of lading bill of lading (DIRECT B / L), trans-shipment bill of lading (TRANSHIPMENT B / L), combined transport bill of lading (THROUGH B / / L) and combined transport bill of lading (COMBINED TRANSPORT B / L) and so on. Direct bill of lading is issued directly by the FOB port of the ship arrived the port of destination bill of lading. FOB Hong Kong cargo ship as not proceed directly to the port of destination, shall be transferred to another ship refitting the ship arrived in Hong Kong port of destination bill of lading issued when, as a transshipment bill of lading. If the goods are subject to two or two above the transport arrived the destination port, which for some is the ocean, if sea and land, sea or ocean transport and air transport bill of lading is issued through bills of lading. Therefore, intermodal transshipment bill of lading bill of lading is a fact. The combined transport must be two or more different modes of transport coherent transport, the carrier issued a bill of lading the goods. Therefore, the combined transport bill of lading, also known as multimodal transport bill of lading. Present in the actual business, many shipping companies to transport bills of lading and combined transport bills of lading using the same format, just as the use of combined transport bill of lading, bill of lading must be FOB port and the port of destination, but also out of receipt , delivery and preceding the name of such means of transport.

4. According to the rise of different bills of lading, bills of lading can be divided into straight bill of lading (STRAIGHT B / L), bearer bill of lading BEARER B / L) and direct bill of lading (ORDER B / L). Straight bill of lading the consignee specified in the column name of the consignee, the consignee, also known as the rise of the bill of lading, which endorsed the bill of lading can not be transferred, but only handing out the goods the consignee, anonymous bill of lading is a bill of lading bill of lading did not specify the name of the consignee, who holds a bill of lading, bills of lading to the carrier will come to coin delivery of the goods, the carrier delivery is not with people vouchers. Instructions are not specified in the bill of lading the consignee, endorsement coin transfer, benefit funds flow, the application of international trade more generally. Bill of lading endorsement (ENDORSMENT) and blank endorsement blank endorsement of two. Blank endorsement by the endorsement (or bill of lading the assignor) to sign on the back of the bill of lading the name of the endorser unit and responsible person, but does not specify the name of the endorser, not to obtain the original bills of lading issued by an authorized person. Directed by the endorsement of a bill of lading can be transferred, means the endorser of the bill of lading to confirm the transfer of ownership. In addition to the same blank endorsement blank endorsement required signature by the endorser, but also indicate the name of the endorser. If the endorsee to conduct the transfer, must be coupled with an endorsement. Ordered the bill of lading with the instructions with the shipper, the consignee with directions and instructions with importing banks, were required to the shipper, the consignee or importer bank transfer or delivery of the goods only after endorsement.

In addition, there are all type is divided into short form bill of lading bill of lading, and; freight prepaid bills of lading bill of lading and freight; the original bill of lading bill of lading and copies; charter party bill of lading under; deck bill of lading, dated B / L, renew and bespeak the bill of lading and so on.