What is a Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI)?

A Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) is a document the exporter gives the freight forwarder. It tells the forwarder how to handle the shipment and, when the forwarder files the export information in AES for you, gives them the data and the authority to do it.

There is no single government form; many forwarders use their own version or an industry template. The content is broadly the same.

What an SLI usually contains

• USPPI name, address and EIN (your company)
• Ultimate consignee and, if any, intermediate consignee
• Forwarding agent (the forwarder you authorize)
• Ports or points of export and destination, and the transport mode
• For each item: description, Schedule B number, quantity, value, and export control classification (ECCN or EAR99) and license information where relevant
• Whether it is a routed export transaction (the foreign buyer chose the forwarder)
• Who files the EEI, and the ITN or the exemption citation
• Signature of an authorized person

How it fits with your other documents

The SLI repeats data from the commercial invoice and the packing list. If the three disagree — a different value, quantity or code — the forwarder has to stop and ask. Preparing all three from the same order data avoids that.

Who signs it

An authorized person at the exporting company. Some forwarders also accept a standing power of attorney so they don't need a new signature for every shipment; ask yours.