A Forwarder’s Cargo Receipt, or FCR, is a document issued by a freight forwarder to confirm that it has received goods from the shipper for transport or forwarding. It usually includes shipment details such as the shipper, consignee, cargo description, quantity, marks, and delivery instructions. An FCR is useful as proof that cargo was handed over to the forwarder, but it is not the same as a negotiable bill of lading and does not usually function as a document of title.
A Forwarder’s Cargo Receipt (FCR) is a document issued by a freight forwarder confirming that they have received goods from the shipper and taken responsibility for their onward transport. It is used in trade transactions where a bill of lading cannot be issued at the time of goods receipt.
- Non-negotiable; cannot be used as a title document
- Used in trade finance when payment is required before the bill of lading is available
- Issued when goods are received at a CFS or forwarder’s warehouse before they are consolidated
- Confirms the forwarder’s obligation to ship the goods as instructed
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on Bill of Lading (BOL), Consolidation, CFS, and Freight Forwarding.


