What is a Shipper in Logistics?

A shipper (also called the consignor) is the person or company that arranges to send goods from one place to another. The shipper usually owns the cargo and, unless the transport contract says otherwise, bears the freight cost.

What a shipper is responsible for

The shipper prepares the goods for transport with correct packaging and labelling, and the paperwork the shipment needs, such as the bill of lading. It hands the cargo to a carrier or engages a freight forwarder to organise the move.

Shipper, forwarder and carrier

The shipper owns and sends the goods, the freight forwarder organises the transport, and the carrier physically moves them. The party that receives the goods at the destination is the consignee.