United States Code
USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025
§ 80103.
Negotiable and nonnegotiable bills
(a)
(1)
A bill of lading is negotiable if the bill—
(A)
states that the goods are to be delivered to the order of a consignee; and
(B)
does not contain on its face an agreement with the shipper that the bill is not negotiable.
(2)
Inserting in a negotiable bill of lading the name of a person to be notified of the arrival of the goods—
(A)
does not limit its negotiability; and
(B)
is not notice to the purchaser of the goods of a right the named person has to the goods.
(b)
(1)
A bill of lading is nonnegotiable if the bill states that the goods are to be delivered to a consignee. The indorsement of a nonnegotiable bill does not—
(A)
make the bill negotiable; or
(B)
give the transferee any additional right.
(2)
A common carrier issuing a nonnegotiable bill of lading must put “nonnegotiable” or “not negotiable” on the bill. This paragraph does not apply to an informal memorandum or acknowledgment.
cite as: 49 USC 80103
