Shipper's Letter of InstructionTemplate

A Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) is a document that provides freight forwarders with detailed instructions for handling, shipping, and processing export shipments.

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SHIPPER'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTION

Reference

SHP-2025-0042

Buyer Reference

PO-78542

Export Declaration No

X20250115001

Shipper ABC Exports Inc. 1250 Longford Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90017 United States	Forwarding Agent Global Freight Services 500 Harbor Drive Long Beach, CA 90802 United States
Consignee Sydney Trading Co. 45 Queen Street Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia	Notify Party Pacific Imports Ltd. 120 Harbour Road Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia

Method of Dispatch Sea Freight	Type of Shipment FCL	Vessel / Aircraft MSC AURORA	Voyage / Flight No AU2501E
Country of Origin United States	Place of Receipt Los Angeles, USA	Port of Loading Los Angeles, USA	Date of Departure 15 Jan 2025
Country of Destination Australia	Final Destination Sydney, Australia	Port of Discharge Sydney, Australia
Incoterms 2020 FOB Los Angeles	Freight Charges Prepaid	Declared Value USD 42,000.00

FORWARDER TO ARRANGE

DESCRIPTION OF GOODS	MARKS & NUMBERS	KIND & NO OF PKGS	GROSS WT (KG)	MEAS. (M³)
Stainless Steel Cookware Sets (12pc)	ABC-001	CTN X 200	2400.00	24.000
Non-stick Frying Pans 28cm	ABC-002	CTN X 500	1800.00	18.500
Kitchen Utensil Sets (5pc)	ABC-003	CTN X 400	1200.00	12.000
Total		1100	5400.00	54.500

Does this shipment contain HAZARDOUS / DANGEROUS goods? If YES, please enclose your dangerous goods declaration.

✓Is this shipment under Letter of Credit? If YES, please enclose your L/C documents.

Document Instructions

3 Original B/L required Telex release acceptable

Special Instructions

Handle with care - fragile items included

Place and Date of Issue

Los Angeles, 10 Jan 2025

Signatory Company

ABC Exports Inc.

Name of Authorized Signatory

Randy Clarke

Signature

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What is a Shipper's Letter of Instruction used for?

The Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) is an essential export document that conveys an exporter's instructions to their freight forwarder. It ensures there are no misunderstandings about how goods should be handled, stored, loaded, and transported to foreign markets.

The SLI serves multiple critical purposes in international trade. It provides all required data elements for Electronic Export Information (EEI) transmission to the Automated Export System (AES). It also authorizes the freight forwarder to issue transport documents like Bills of Lading or Air Waybills on behalf of the exporter.

Additionally, the SLI typically includes a limited Power of Attorney statement, giving the freight forwarder authority to sign documents and file export declarations on the exporter's behalf. This makes it an indispensable tool for efficient and compliant export operations.

Providing shipping instructions to freight forwarders

Authorizing agents to file Electronic Export Information (EEI)

Enabling issuance of Bills of Lading or Air Waybills

Granting limited Power of Attorney for export documentation

Ensuring compliance with export control regulations

Communicating special handling requirements

Documenting hazardous goods declarations

How to create a Shipper's Letter of Instruction

Enter shipper and consignee details

Fill in complete contact information for the shipper, consignee, forwarding agent, and notify party.

Add shipping information

Specify method of dispatch, ports of loading and discharge, vessel details, and departure dates.

Describe the goods

List all items with descriptions, marks and numbers, package quantities, weights, and measurements.

Include special instructions

Add any document instructions, special handling requirements, hazardous goods declarations, or Letter of Credit information.

Sign and authorize

Add authorized signatory details and signature to authorize the freight forwarder to act on your behalf.

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Your questions, answered.

A Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) is a formal document that conveys an exporter's instructions to their freight forwarder. It contains details about shipping terms, handling instructions, and authorizes the forwarder to process export documentation on behalf of the shipper.

While not legally mandatory in all cases, an SLI is often required by freight forwarders and is considered best practice for international shipments. It provides crucial instructions and authorization for handling your export shipment properly.

The exporter or shipper is responsible for completing the Shipper's Letter of Instruction with all relevant information and detailed instructions. The authorized signatory should have the necessary authority to provide instructions on behalf of the shipping company.

The SLI is an instruction document from the shipper to the freight forwarder, while the Bill of Lading is a transport document issued by the carrier. The SLI authorizes the forwarder to issue the Bill of Lading on behalf of the shipper.

An SLI typically includes: shipper and consignee details, forwarding agent information, goods description, shipping method and route, special handling instructions, declared value, and authorization signatures.

Yes, the SLI provides all required data elements for EEI transmission to the Automated Export System (AES). It authorizes the freight forwarder to file EEI on behalf of the exporter.

The SLI typically includes a limited Power of Attorney statement that gives the freight forwarder authority to sign documents, file export declarations, and act on behalf of the exporter for the specific shipment.

Yes, an SLI is commonly used for both sea and air freight shipments. For air freight, it authorizes the forwarder to issue Air Waybills and file necessary export documentation.

Incorrect SLI information can lead to shipping delays, customs holds, additional fees, and potential compliance violations. Always verify all details before submitting to your freight forwarder.

Yes, many freight forwarders and ports now accept electronic SLIs (eSLIs) for faster processing. Digital submission is increasingly common in modern logistics operations.

The declared value is typically the commercial value of the goods being shipped, often based on the commercial invoice value. This is used for customs purposes and may affect insurance coverage.

Yes, if your shipment contains hazardous or dangerous goods, this must be clearly indicated on the SLI. A separate Dangerous Goods Declaration should also be enclosed with the shipment documents.

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