The Difference Between an Original Bill of Lading, a Telex Release, and an Express Release
To ensure a smooth sea freight process—such as from China or the U.S.—several things must be arranged in advance. You’ll need proper import/export documentation, clarity on physical transport costs, and perhaps insurance for your goods during transit. These are just a few aspects to consider. Naturally, we’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ll focus on the most important document in ocean freight: the Bill of Lading.
The Different Types of Bill of Lading
There are several types of Bill of Lading. The most important are:
Original Bill of Lading (OBL)
Telex Release
Express Release
As an importer or exporter, you should be familiar with these options.
The Difference Between an Original Bill of Lading and a Telex Release
When importing into or exporting from Germany or Belgium, the Bill of Lading can be issued either in physical (paper) form or digitally. If it’s provided digitally, it is referred to as a Telex Release.
If a physical OBL is required, you must be in possession of the original paper document to prove you are the rightful consignee. The supplier sends the original via postal mail. Since the supplier is often located abroad, this process can take several days. Who covers the cost of issuing and mailing the Bill of Lading should be part of your negotiation. Ideally, you should arrange upfront that the purchase includes all related costs.
Alternatively, your supplier may issue a Telex Release, which is essentially a digital version of the physical OBL. The key benefit is speed—there’s no need to wait for mail. A Telex Release also serves as proof of ownership. Don't be confused by the term "Telex"—while it used to involve actual telex communication, it's now handled via email.
A Matter of Trust
Whether the supplier issues a physical OBL or a Telex Release usually depends on how much they trust the buyer. If trust is high, they may issue a Telex Release. If they want payment security first, they’ll usually send an original Bill of Lading.
Process of a Telex Release
You pay the invoice to the supplier.
The freight forwarder provides shipment details to the supplier.
The carrier issues the OBL after vessel departure.
The supplier surrenders the OBL to the carrier and requests a Telex Release.
The carrier emails the Telex Release to the destination port agent, confirming the OBL has been retained.
A copy of the OBL may still be forwarded for processing.
The freight forwarder can now collect the goods on your behalf once customs clearance is complete.
Advantages of a Telex Release
✔ Faster customs clearance (no need to wait for postal delivery)
✔ More efficient and convenient
✔ Saves shipping costs for physical documents
✔ No risk of documents getting lost in transit
Disadvantages of a Telex Release
✖ Vulnerable to fraud – anyone with access to the email can claim the goods
✖ If the email is lost or not received, it may be hard to recover
What Is an Express Release?
An Express Release is another digital variant of the Bill of Lading. It involves no physical documents at all—saving both printing and mailing costs. It’s the fastest and most cost-effective option and is generally used between trusted business partners. Because it provides limited protection to the supplier, it’s used only when strong trust exists.
Advantages of an Express Release
✔ Fastest method – cargo can be released immediately upon arrival
✔ Saves the supplier time and money on document handling
Disadvantages of an Express Release
✖ Higher fraud risk – ownership is confirmed via simple email
✖ Not addressed to a specific consignee, which can complicate ownership verification
Telex Release: Most Common in Practice
Most large clients of The Freight Hero use Express Release with regular suppliers. However, if you’re dealing with a supplier only occasionally, Telex Release is the most common method.
Since both the Bill of Lading copy and Telex Release are needed for customs clearance, it is crucial that your supplier promptly sends the B/L copy to The Freight Hero’s port agent. Without it, customs will not release your goods, potentially causing extra storage fees. If your supplier insists on sending a physical OBL by mail, your cargo may remain in the warehouse longer, leading to unnecessary extra costs.
Our advice: always clarify in advance which type of Bill of Lading your supplier will issue.