Blind Shipping: What Is It & Why Many Carriers Avoid It?

Blind shipping might sound like a secretive freight tactic – and in some ways it is. It’s a practice where one or more parties in a shipment are kept deliberately “in the dark” about who the other parties are. In this article, we explain what blind shipping is, why companies use it, and (most importantly) why carriers often avoid it or handle it only with special conditions.

What Is Blind Shipping?

In simple terms, a blind shipment is a freight shipment where the identity and address of the shipper or the consignee (or both) are hidden from the other party. This information is intentionally omitted from the shipping documents (specifically from the Bill of Lading, or BOL).

In a typical blind shipping scenario, a third party (such as Freightera) coordinates the shipment so that the end customer doesn’t see the original supplier’s details. Sometimes the roles are even double-blind – meaning neither the shipper nor the receiver knows who the other is. In a double-blind shipment, both parties’ information is concealed, often with a third party being the only one who knows the identities of both the shipper and consignee.

Why would anyone ship freight “blind”? The main reason is to protect business relationships and prevent disintermediation (or cutting out the middleman).

Imagine you order a product from an online store, and when it arrives, the return address or packing slip shows it was shipped from a manufacturer you’ve never heard of – not from the retailer you bought it from. As a customer, you now have the supplier’s info and could potentially buy from them directly next time, likely at a lower price. Great for you, but bad for the retailer, who just lost future business.

However, executing a blind shipment isn’t as simple as removing a name from a label. It requires careful coordination and extra paperwork to ensure that the shipment still moves correctly without tipping off either party.

How Blind Shipping Works

To pull off a blind shipment, carriers and logistics providers use multiple Bills of Lading and strict handling procedures. Typically, two or three BOLs might be needed for one shipment:

• BOL #1 (Real BOL for the Carrier): A complete BOL with the true pickup and delivery information (both shipper and consignee details). This is kept on file by the carrier and used internally so the freight can go to the correct place. It’s essentially the “master” document that ensures the carrier knows the actual origin and destination for transport. 
• BOL #2 (Blind BOL for Pickup): A “dummy” BOL that omits or replaces the shipper’s information (when the goal is to hide the origin) or the consignee’s information (when the goal is to hide the destination). This is the document the shipper sees upon delivery. For example, it might list the distributor or retailer as the shipper instead of the actual manufacturer.
• Dummy Proof of Delivery (POD) for the consignee. If the shipment needs to be hidden from the consignee, they will not see the BOL, so a copy of the POD needs to be provided for them to sign. This copy cannot contain any of the information about the actual shipper.

Coordinating these documents is tricky. Everyone involved has to know which BOL to use at each stage. The carrier has to ensure the driver presents the right paperwork to the right party. If the wrong BOL gets used at pickup or delivery, the freight might get delivered to the wrong address, or the receiver might accidentally be handed the info that was meant to be concealed.

Nowadays, carriers more commonly have consignees sign a digital Proof of Delivery (POD) or a simplified delivery receipt. That means the receiver might not see the full BOL data at delivery, which “effectively makes it a blind shipment” in many cases, even when not explicitly arranged as one. However, keep in mind that pickup locations or origin cities are often still listed on the delivery receipt/POD, so a savvy consignee could guess the source. 

Why Carriers Are Wary of Blind Shipments

Blind shipping provides obvious benefits to shippers and intermediaries, but from the carrier’s perspective, it introduces extra complications and risks. Many freight carriers avoid blind shipments entirely (especially when it comes to LTL), or only agree to them under strict conditions and with extra fees. Here are the key reasons carriers tend to shy away from blind shipping:

• Documentation Complexity & Risk of Errors: A standard shipment has one bill of lading and clear information for everyone. Carriers know that if a dispatcher or driver grabs the incorrect paperwork, the shipment could be misdelivered or sensitive info could slip out. Mistakes in a blind shipment can be costly. Many carriers explicitly warn that if a blind shipment is misrouted due to an error, they won’t assume liability for the mistake. (In fact, it’s standard for carriers to state that they’ll attempt to honor the blind shipment instructions, but if something goes wrong, it’s not on them.) This policy shows just how cautious carriers are about the risk of errors – they know blind shipping is a bit of a tightrope walk. 
• Extra Operational Hassle: From a carrier’s operational view, blind shipments are more work. The carrier’s team has to create and manage the paperwork, double-check instructions, and sometimes coordinate with different contacts at pickup and delivery who each have different information. Drivers need special briefing on what to say (or not say) to the shipper/consignee about the shipment’s origin or destination. That’s why it’s common to see a blind shipment accessorial charge of around $100–$200 per shipment from LTL carriers. 
• Carrier Systems and Rules: Each carrier has their own policies and tolerances for blind shipments. Some carriers simply do not offer blind shipping at all since their system is built around complete, transparent information on BOLs, and they don’t want to deviate. Others will do it, but only if you follow their rules to the letter. Additionally, many carriers mandate payment up front for blind shipments, even if you have credit with Freightera or the carrier. All these extra rules indicate that carriers treat blind loads as exceptional.  
• Liability and Trust Concerns: Carriers are also cautious because blind shipping can put them in an awkward position if something goes wrong. As mentioned, they often have waivers or tariff rules saying they’re not liable for misdelivery on blind loads. The carrier has to be confident that the shipment isn’t violating any laws or rules by concealing information. 
• Potential for Delays and Confusion: Carriers prefer straightforward jobs; anything that introduces uncertainty for their personnel is a headache. If a truck driver or dock worker isn’t aware that the shipment is blind, receiving a BOL that has missing or “fake” information can raise red flags. There have been cases where a driver sees a BOL with no consignee address or an odd-sounding shipper name and stops to call dispatch, assuming there’s a mistake. The more moving parts and secrecy, the more chances for something to go wrong or cause delays, so many would rather avoid the situation if possible. 
• Not All Carriers (or shipping modes) Will Do It: It’s worth emphasizing that some carriers simply choose not to handle blind or double-blind shipments. If a carrier’s processes or software can’t accommodate multiple BOLs for one load, they might outright refuse blind freight. LTL, parcel, and similar shipping modes are simply not suited for blind shipping. Carriers aren’t obligated to offer blind shipping, and many don’t want the headaches unless there’s a strong business case. 

Our Take

At Freightera, we understand that blind shipping is a useful tool for shippers under the right circumstances. In fact, we may accommodate blind shipments for FTL, on a case-by-case basis, when our customers need to keep supply chain details confidential.

Blind shipping is a legal and common practice in many industries, but it comes with extra steps and potential headaches. Carriers avoid blind shipments because of the added complexity, risk of mistakes, and liability concerns. In other words, it’s extra work with extra risk for the carrier. Blind shipping can be done successfully. If you think you need to ship freight blind, make sure to partner with a knowledgeable logistics provider (like Freightera) who can navigate carrier requirements and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

If possible, it’s best to stick to old-fashioned LTL shipping. It keeps things easy and accessible, just like Freightera. Register now and get the best freight rates available online in seconds.

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