Packing List Guide: Why Shipping Marks Matter for LCL Cargo

Your packing list looks complete. Weights, dimensions, item descriptions—all filled in. But there's one field that can determine whether your cargo arrives safely or disappears into a warehouse: shipping marks.

This guide explains how to create a packing list that protects your LCL shipments from loss, and why the marks on your cartons matter more than you think.

What is a packing list and why does it matter?

A packing list is a shipping document that details the contents of each package in your shipment. It includes item descriptions, quantities, weights, dimensions, and the marks printed on each carton. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, the packing list is used by freight forwarders to calculate shipping costs and by customs officials to verify cargo contents.

Unlike a commercial invoice, which focuses on transaction value, the packing list focuses on physical identification. It tells handlers what's inside each box and how to match those boxes to the correct shipment.

For Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments, this identification function becomes critical. Your cargo shares container space with shipments from other companies. When the container is unpacked at the destination, workers rely on shipping marks to sort and deliver each shipment correctly.

What are shipping marks and what should they include?

Shipping marks are the identifying codes, numbers, and symbols printed on the exterior of your cartons. They allow carriers, warehouse workers, and customs officials to identify your cargo without opening the boxes.

A standard shipping mark includes:

• Consignee identifier: Company initials, code, or abbreviated name

• Destination: Port or city code (e.g., LAX, HKG)

• Reference number: Purchase order or invoice number

• Carton number: Sequential numbering (1/20, 2/20, etc.)

• Country of origin: Required by many importing countries

• Handling instructions: "Fragile," "This Side Up" if applicable

According to industry guidelines, marks should be printed in bold, waterproof ink on at least two sides of each carton. They should be large enough to read from a distance during warehouse sorting.

Why does "N/M" work for FCL but not for LCL?

"N/M" stands for "No Mark" and appears frequently on Bills of Lading. For Full Container Load (FCL) shipments, this is standard practice. According to Jingsourcing, FCL cargo Bills of Lading can use "N/M" in the shipping mark column because the entire container belongs to one shipper.

The container is sealed at origin and remains sealed until it reaches the destination. No one needs to identify individual cartons mid-transit because they all belong to the same consignee.

LCL shipments operate differently. Multiple shippers share one container, and each shipment must be separated at the destination Container Freight Station (CFS). For LCL cargo, the Bill of Lading should include specific shipping marks, not "N/M."

As Jingsourcing notes, if you ship LCL without proper marks, "your products are likely to be mixed up or lost when the container is unpacked." The workers sorting cargo have no way to distinguish your cartons from another shipper's identical-looking boxes.

What happens when shipping marks are missing or wrong?

Missing or inconsistent shipping marks create two problems: cargo confusion and liability gaps.

Cargo confusion: According to MSC, LCL shipping involves more handling at ports, warehouses, and consolidation hubs. Each handling point increases the risk of damage or misplacement. Without clear marks, your cartons can be delivered to the wrong consignee or left unclaimed at the CFS.

Liability gaps: This is where it gets expensive. According to Ice Cargo Australia, "if your numbers don't match, there's a huge risk that the carrier will simply be absolved from all their responsibilities over your cargo—whether this be delays or shipping your goods to the completely wrong destination."

When you file a claim for lost or misdelivered cargo, the carrier will compare the marks on your cartons against the marks listed on your Bill of Lading and packing list. Any discrepancy gives them grounds to deny the claim.

Globally, cargo loss and damage exceed $50 billion annually, according to Zero Down Supply Chain Solutions. A significant portion of these losses involve identification failures that could have been prevented with proper marking.

How should shipping marks appear on your packing list?

Your packing list should have a dedicated column or field for "Marks & Numbers." This field must contain the exact text that appears on your physical cartons.

A properly formatted entry looks like this:

• ABC CO.

• LAX

• PO-2024-0892

• C/NO. 1-20

• MADE IN KOREA

This same text should appear identically on your commercial invoice and Bill of Lading. According to Ice Cargo Australia, "marks and numbers also reflect what is being reported on the commercial invoice, certificate of origin, and the bill of lading."

The consistency requirement is absolute. If your packing list says "C/NO. 1-20" but your cartons are marked "CTN 1-20," that's a discrepancy. Small formatting differences can create problems during customs inspection or claim processing.

What other information should your packing list include?

Beyond shipping marks, a complete export packing list requires:

Header information:

• Exporter name, address, and contact details

• Consignee name, address, and contact details

• Invoice number and date

• Purchase order or reference number

Shipping details:

• Port of loading and port of discharge

• Vessel name and voyage number (for ocean freight)

• Container number (if known at time of packing list creation)

• Method of dispatch (sea, air, road)

Package details (for each line item):

• Description of goods

• Quantity per carton

• Number of cartons

• Net weight per carton and total

• Gross weight per carton and total

• Dimensions (L x W x H) per carton

• Total volume in cubic meters (CBM)

According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, the packing list should be "considerably more detailed and informative than a standard domestic packing list." The level of detail helps customs officials verify shipment contents without opening every carton.

How do you ensure document consistency?

Document consistency means the same information appears identically across your packing list, commercial invoice, and Bill of Lading. Here's a practical checklist:

• Shipping marks: Identical text, same formatting, same order

• Number of packages: Same total count on all three documents

• Gross weight: Same figure (minor rounding differences may be acceptable)

• Description of goods: Same wording, especially if under Letter of Credit

• Consignee details: Exact name and address match

When your supplier prepares the packing list, verify every field against your commercial invoice before they hand documents to the freight forwarder. The forwarder uses these documents to prepare the Bill of Lading. Errors caught early are easy to fix; errors caught at destination are expensive.

Quick reference: Packing list checklist for LCL shipments

• Every carton has clear, waterproof shipping marks on at least two sides

• Marks include: consignee code, destination, reference number, carton number

• Packing list "Marks & Numbers" field matches physical carton marks exactly

• Same marks appear on commercial invoice and Bill of Lading

• Total carton count matches across all documents

• Weights and dimensions are accurate (carriers will verify at CFS)

• Country of origin is marked on cartons if required by destination country

A complete, consistent packing list takes an extra 10 minutes to verify. A lost shipment takes weeks to resolve—if it can be resolved at all. The marks on your cartons and the details on your packing list are your cargo's identity. Without them, your shipment is just another stack of anonymous boxes in a crowded warehouse.