Notify Party

What is a Notify Party?

A notify party is any party that is notified with shipment information by a carrier upon the arrival of cargo at its destination.

In most instances, a customs broker, freight forwarder, or intermediary is shown as the notify party in order to facilitate prompt customs clearance and cargo delivery.

What does a notify party do?

The notify party doesn't own the cargo and has no right to take it. The carrier lists the notify party on the bill of lading so someone knows when the cargo arrives and can arrange customs clearance and pickup. The consignee is the party that receives the goods, and the notify party can be a different company.

On a typical import, the consignee is the buyer and the notify party is the buyer's customs broker or freight forwarder. Give the carrier a notify party with accurate contact details before it issues the bill of lading, because the carrier sends the arrival notice there, and a wrong or missing contact can delay pickup and trigger storage charges.

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