Shipping documents
Updated September 28, 2026
The consignee is the person or business a shipment is sent to. The consignor, often called the shipper, is the one who sends it. Federal rules say a motor carrier’s bill of lading must name both.
On a new-car move, the consignor is often the automaker or its port or rail yard, and the consignee is often the dealer. Roles depend on the deal, so the bill of lading is what counts.
Consignor
Sends the freight
Plant, port, auction or selling dealer
Consignee
Receives the freight
Dealer, rental location or buyer
This guide explains who is who on a vehicle shipment, where each name goes on the paperwork, what proof of delivery means, and why the consignee matters if a car arrives damaged. It is a plain summary from a carrier, not legal advice.
Consignee vs Consignor
The two words come from the same root, so they are easy to mix up. One trick: the consignee ends in “ee”, like the person who receives a gift. The consignor ends in “or”, like a sender.
- Consignee
- The person or business named on the bill of lading to receive the shipment at its destination.
- Consignor
- The person or business named on the bill of lading as sending the shipment from its origin. It is often called the shipper.
Both names must be on the bill of lading for freight moving between states. So must the origin and the destination. That is why a carrier asks for both before it picks up a single car.
Shipper, Carrier and Broker: Who Does What
A shipment has more than two parties. This is the short version of who does what.
| Role | What it does | On a vehicle move, often |
|---|---|---|
| Consignor (shipper) | Sends the freight and is named at the origin | An automaker, a port or rail yard, an auction or a dealer |
| Consignee | Receives the freight and is named at the destination | A dealer, a rental location or a buyer |
| Carrier | Hauls the freight and issues the bill of lading | The car-haul company whose truck shows up |
| Broker | Arranges the move with a carrier but does not haul it | A transport company that books another carrier’s truck |
“Shipper” and “consignor” usually mean the same party. A broker is a different thing, and the difference matters when you need to know who is responsible. Our guide to auto transport brokers vs carriers explains it.
A Vehicle Shipment, Role by Role
Accelerated hauls new and used vehicles for automakers, rental car companies, dealers and auto auctions. These are the patterns we see most. Your own contract can set them up another way.
New vehicles to a dealer
Consignor the automaker, or the plant, port or rail yard shipping for it
Consignee the dealer that ordered the car
A rental fleet move
Consignor the rental company at the pickup location
Consignee the same company at the drop-off location
Auction or dealer trade
Consignor the auction, or the dealer sending the car
Consignee the dealer buying or taking in the car
In every case, the carrier sits in the middle. It takes the vehicles from the consignor, moves them, and hands them to the consignee. See how that works for automakers, rental fleets and dealers and auctions, or read how finished vehicle logistics gets a car from the plant to the lot.
Where the Roles Appear on the Bill of Lading
Federal rules list what a for-hire motor carrier’s bill of lading must show for freight moving between states. The consignor and consignee come first.
Bill of ladingSample, not a real shipment
- Names of consignor and consigneeConsignor: Sample Port Yard. Consignee: Sample Motors (dealer)
- Origin and destinationPort yard gate to the dealer’s lot
- Number of packages1 vehicle
- Description of the freightNew SUV, listed by its VIN
- Weight, volume or measurementOnly if it affects the rate
The carrier must keep a record of this information.
On a car-haul load, each vehicle is usually listed by year, make, model and VIN, and a condition report goes with it. Our guide to vehicle condition reports covers the full paperwork, including how damage is marked at pickup and delivery.
What Proof of Delivery Means
- Proof of delivery
- The record, signed or confirmed at drop-off, showing that the consignee received the shipment and noting its condition.
On a vehicle move, proof of delivery is usually the delivery copy of the bill of lading and the condition report, signed by the person taking the cars. On loads our sub-haulers run, our terms require a bill of lading and a condition report for each vehicle, signed by the customer with a printed name.
Electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) does the same job on a phone or tablet. Every Accelerated truck carries GPS tracking and Electronic Proof of Delivery. Dealers can sign up for automated ePODs and live vehicle tracking.
As the consignee, read the paperwork before you sign. If you see damage, write it on the delivery receipt before the driver leaves.
Why the Consignee Matters if Something Goes Wrong
Under federal law, the carrier that issues the bill of lading, and the carrier that delivers, are liable for actual loss or damage to the freight. They answer to “the person entitled to recover under the receipt or bill of lading.”
Who that is depends on the shipment and the contract. It may be the consignee, the consignor or the owner of the vehicles. This is one reason the names on the bill of lading matter.
A damage note on the delivery receipt is a good first step, but it is not a claim by itself. Our guide to the Carmack Amendment and damage claims explains the deadlines and how a written claim works.
Moving vehicles between a plant, port, auction or dealer? Tell us about the job.
Consignee and Consignor FAQs
What is a consignee in shipping?
The consignee is the person or business the shipment is going to. It is named on the bill of lading as the receiver at the destination. On a new-car move, it is often the dealer.
What is the difference between a consignor and a consignee?
The consignor sends the freight and the consignee receives it. Federal rules require a motor carrier’s bill of lading to name both, along with the origin and destination.
Is the shipper the same as the consignor?
Usually, yes. Shipper is the everyday word for the consignor, the party that sends the freight. A broker who arranges the move is not the shipper and is not the carrier.
Who signs the proof of delivery?
The consignee, or the person taking the vehicles for it, signs or confirms the delivery record at drop-off. Note any damage on it before the driver leaves.
Can the consignor and consignee be the same company?
Yes. A rental company moving cars between two of its own locations can be named on both lines, with a different address for each.
Ship Vehicles With Accelerated
We have moved cars since 1999 for automakers, rental fleets, dealers and auctions, with GPS tracking and Electronic Proof of Delivery on every truck. Tell us what you need to move and where.
Prefer the phone? Call (720) 200-3100, Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Sources
Last checked September 28, 2026. This is a plain summary of federal rules, not legal advice. Your bill of lading and contract set the terms of your shipment.