Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) Template for Export Shipments
A Shipper's Letter of Instruction, or SLI, tells your freight forwarder exactly what to ship and how. A clear one prevents wrong documents, missed filings and costly rework. Fill in the fields and export a clean PDF or Word document.
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Shipper's Letter of Instruction Template
Shipper's Letter of Instruction
Date: 2026-10-20 Shipper reference: PO-77104
This letter instructs our freight forwarder to arrange the export shipment described below.
Parties
| Role | Details |
|---|---|
| Shipper / USPPI | Acme Precision Ltd 1200 Industrial Way Dallas, TX 75201, USA |
| Shipper contact | J. Rivera, +1 214 555 0142, shipping@acme.example |
| Consignee | Delta Components GmbH Hafenstrasse 14 20457 Hamburg, Germany |
| Notify party | Same as consignee |
Terms and routing
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Incoterms 2020 rule | FCA Dallas, TX |
| Transport mode | Ocean LCL |
| Port or airport of loading | Houston, TX |
| Port or airport of discharge | Hamburg, Germany |
Cargo
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | CNC machined aluminium housings, finished |
| Schedule B / HTS | 8487.90.00 |
| Packages | 12 wooden crates |
| Gross weight (kg) | 1,480 |
| Dimensions / volume | 12 x 120x100x90 cm, 12.96 CBM |
| Value (USD) | 48,600.00 |
Export control and filing
Classification: EAR99 Routed export transaction: No
We authorise the forwarder to act as our agent to prepare and file the Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export System where required, and to prepare transport documents on the basis of the information above. We confirm that the information is accurate and complete to the best of our knowledge.
Special instructions
Please quote LCL freight with consolidation to Hamburg. Cargo is non-hazardous. Insure for 110 percent of invoice value. Send draft bill of lading for approval before release.
Authorisation
This template is a starting point, not legal advice. Check the information with your forwarder and your export compliance contact, and confirm licence requirements for controlled items before shipment. Attach a commercial invoice and packing list.
Generate shipping documents from ERP sales orders
Optional: discuss producing the SLI, invoice and packing list from shipment records in your ERP.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use this SLI template
Fill in the shipper, consignee and notify party, then the Incoterm and named place, the transport mode and the ports. Describe the cargo in plain terms, with the Schedule B or HTS code, package count, weight, dimensions and value. State the export control classification and any special handling. Review the preview, export it as PDF or Word, sign it, and send it to the forwarder together with the commercial invoice and packing list. Keep a copy with the shipment file.
Why each section matters
The forwarder builds the bill of lading, the airway bill and, for US exports, the Electronic Export Information filing in AES from your SLI. Errors flow into every downstream document. The Incoterm defines who arranges and pays for carriage, insurance and clearance. The classification and routed-transaction fields determine licence checks and who must file. The description must be specific enough for customs, not a generic word such as 'parts'.
- Match every value with the commercial invoice.
- State whether the cargo is dangerous goods and attach the declaration if so.
- Name the party responsible for destination customs clearance.
A worked example
A Dallas manufacturer sells machined housings to a buyer in Hamburg on FCA Dallas terms. The SLI lists 12 crates, 1,480 kg, 12.96 CBM, a value of 48,600 dollars, EAR99 classification and an instruction to quote LCL consolidation. The forwarder files the export data, books the consolidation and sends a draft bill of lading for approval. Because the buyer controls main carriage under FCA, the SLI also tells the forwarder to hand the cargo to the buyer's nominated carrier if needed.
Common mistakes
The usual problems are inconsistent values between the SLI and invoice, missing HTS or Schedule B codes, vague commodity descriptions, wrong Incoterm place and failing to state the export control classification. Another is sending the SLI late: forwarders need time to file export data before cut-off, and for ocean cargo typically want documents several days before vessel closing. Do not use the SLI to give legal advice or contractual terms; it is an operational instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Shipper's Letter of Instruction?
It is a document in which the exporter gives the freight forwarder instructions for a shipment: parties, cargo, terms, routing, export control status and any special handling. The forwarder uses it to prepare transport documents and file export data.
Is an SLI required by law?
No. It is a commercial document, not a legal requirement, but forwarders rely on it, and in the US it can serve as the written authorisation for a forwarder to file Electronic Export Information on the exporter's behalf.
What is the difference between an SLI and a bill of lading?
The SLI is the exporter's instruction to the forwarder. The bill of lading is the carrier's document that serves as a receipt, contract of carriage and, for negotiable originals, document of title. The SLI data feeds the bill of lading.
What should I attach to the SLI?
Send the commercial invoice, packing list and any licence, certificate of origin, dangerous goods declaration or inspection certificate required. The forwarder checks them against the SLI for consistency.
If your ERP already holds the sales order, item master and customer data, Netray can generate the SLI and commercial invoice from the shipment record with human review before sending.
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