Multimodal Transport Document

Multimodal Transport Document in International Trade

Meaning of Multimodal Transport Document, according to the Dictionary of International Trade (Global Negotiator): A document issued or signed by a carrier indicating carriage by more than one means of transportation. For example, a multimodal transport document for a door-to-port shipment with main carriage by vessel might indicate pickup at the place where the shipment originates (often the seller's premises) with pre-carriage by truck and main carriage from the named port of loading to the named port of discharge by a named vessel. Depending on how the contact carriage was drafted, the document could be issued either on a received for shipment basis at any time after the goods entered the control of the main carrier, or on an on-board basis after the goods were loaded in the named vessel. As some ship lines accept liability only while the cargo is on their vessel, its is important to carefully read the contract of carriage.