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Understanding Double Blind Shipments

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Double blind shipments are TOUGH! When normally you’re using one bill of lading, double blind shipments require as many as three. Three! But they say the first step of recovery is acceptance, so let’s talk about double blind shipping.

What Is A Double Blind Shipment?

A double blind shipment is an LTL freight shipment where both the pickup location and delivery location are falsified to the consignee and shipper, respectively. The shipper hands the freight over not knowing the true destination, and the consignee accepts the freight not knowing the true starting point of the shipment. Told you it was complicated.

How Do You Set One Up?

If you want to do double blind shipping you’re going to need a freight broker. They’ll help you set up three separate bill of ladings. The first will be used by the shipper at the time the freight is picked up by the carrier.

On this BOL, the consignee address is incorrect. The second bill of lading will be used at the time of delivery to the consignee. This BOL will have the shipper’s address and information falsified. The final BOL used on a double blind shipment will be the “Correct” BOL given to the freight carrier when the shipment is set up.

This has the correct information for both the shipper and consignee, and is used by the carrier for billing purposes, not to mention where to actually deliver the freight.

Download the Blind Shipments Freight Paper

Why Do Double Blind?

Double blind shipping is used to make sure a customer doesn’t go straight to the vendor, manufacturing, or wholesaler. For example, let’s say that I buy rare vintage clothes from thrift stores around the country, and then re-sell them on my website for a profit. I live in Los Angeles and my customer lives in New York City. The thrift store is located in Oklahoma.

As the one setting up the shipment, I don’t want the thrift shop OR the customer to know about the other. If the thrift shop knows where they’re shipping, they could reach out and sell directly to my customer for a better price.

If the customer knows where they’re coming from, they can go direct as well. Both of these situations involve me, the middle man, getting cut out of the process. Double blind shipping is a way to avoid this.

Does It Cost Money?

Yes! There is a blind shipment service fee assessed by most freight carriers. The good news is that this charge is often good for both a “regular” blind shipping, as well as a double blind shipment.

 

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