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Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI)

Generate Export-Compliant SLIs in Minutes with AI

8 minutes with CaseMark

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Workflow

Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI)

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Workflow

Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI)

Overview

Preparing Shipper's Letters of Instruction manually is time-consuming and error-prone, requiring careful attention to export control regulations, customs requirements, and freight forwarder authorizations. A single mistake in ECCN classification, valuation, or EEI filing authorization can result in shipment delays, regulatory penalties, or customs holds that cost thousands in demurrage fees.

Preparing a compliant Shipper's Letter of Instruction requires navigating complex export regulations, precise commodity classifications, and multiple regulatory frameworks. Manual drafting takes hours, risks costly errors in export control classifications, and creates compliance vulnerabilities that can result in penalties, shipment delays, or denied export privileges.

CaseMark automates SLI creation by extracting data from your shipping documents, applying current export regulations, and generating comprehensive instructions that satisfy U.S. Census, BIS, and customs requirements. Our AI ensures accurate party identification, proper export control classifications, and complete compliance certifications in minutes instead of hours.

How it works

  1. 1. Upload your documents

  2. 2. AI analyzes and extracts key information

  3. 3. Review and customize the generated content

  4. 4. Export in your preferred format (DOCX, PDF)

What you get

  • Shipper (Exporter) Details

  • Consignee (Importer) Details

  • Freight Forwarder Information

  • Description of Goods

  • Customs Valuation

  • Export Control Information

  • EEI Filing Authorization

  • Shipper Authorization and Signature Block

What it handles

  • Shipper (Exporter) Details

  • Consignee (Importer) Details

  • Freight Forwarder Information

  • Description of Goods

  • Customs Valuation

  • Export Control Information

  • EEI Filing Authorization

  • Shipper Authorization and Signature Block

Required documents

  • Commercial Invoice

    Invoice showing transaction value, itemized goods, and party details

    PDF, DOCX, XLSX

  • Product Specifications

    Technical details, model numbers, and commodity descriptions for classification

    PDF, DOCX

Supporting documents

  • Export License

    BIS or State Department license if required for controlled items

    PDF

  • Packing List

    Detailed list of contents, quantities, weights, and packaging information

    PDF, XLSX

  • Purchase Order

    Original purchase agreement showing consignee and transaction terms

    PDF, DOCX

  • Prior SLI Documents

    Previous Shipper's Letters of Instruction for similar shipments

    PDF, DOCX

  • Customs Registration Documents

    Business registration, EIN, DUNS, or other identification numbers

    PDF

Why teams use it

Generate compliant SLIs in 8 minutes instead of 2.5+ hours of manual drafting

Ensure accurate export control classifications and EEI filing authorizations

Reduce customs delays and regulatory penalties from documentation errors

Maintain consistent formatting across all international shipment documentation

Automatically populate party details, goods descriptions, and valuation data from source documents

Questions

What is a Shipper's Letter of Instruction and why is it required?

A Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) is a formal document that authorizes a freight forwarder to arrange international transportation and prepare export documentation on behalf of the shipper. It serves as both a contractual authorization and a compliance instrument under U.S. export control laws. The SLI is required because it establishes the legal relationship between shipper and forwarder, provides essential information for Electronic Export Information filing, and creates a compliance record demonstrating adherence to export regulations. Customs authorities and carriers rely on the SLI to verify shipment details and regulatory compliance.

What information must be included in a compliant SLI?

A compliant SLI must include complete legal identification of the shipper, consignee, and freight forwarder with full addresses and contact details. It requires detailed commodity descriptions sufficient for tariff classification, Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers, commercial values, quantities, and weights. Export control classifications (ECCN, USML category, or EAR99 designation) must be specified along with license numbers or exemption citations. The document must include EEI filing instructions, comprehensive authorization language empowering the forwarder to act on the shipper's behalf, and detailed compliance certifications regarding accuracy, export control compliance, and denied party screening.

How does CaseMark ensure my SLI complies with current export regulations?

CaseMark incorporates current Export Administration Regulations, International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and Foreign Trade Regulations requirements into every generated SLI. The system validates export control classifications against current Commerce Control Lists, checks for required license disclosures, and ensures proper EEI filing language based on shipment characteristics. CaseMark includes all mandatory compliance certifications, applies correct regulatory citations for exemptions, and structures the document to satisfy both U.S. Census Bureau statistical requirements and customs documentation standards. The AI continuously updates its regulatory knowledge base to reflect the latest compliance requirements.

Can CaseMark handle SLIs for controlled items requiring export licenses?

Yes, CaseMark can generate SLIs for shipments requiring export licenses under either EAR or ITAR. When you upload an export license document, CaseMark extracts the license number, validates it against the commodity description, and incorporates the proper license citation into the SLI. The system ensures that the commodity description matches the licensed items, includes all required license conditions and provisos, and generates appropriate certification language confirming that the shipment is authorized under the specified license. For ITAR-controlled defense articles, CaseMark applies the heightened documentation standards and includes all required State Department license references.

What happens if my shipping documents contain inconsistent information?

CaseMark identifies discrepancies between uploaded documents and flags them for your review before generating the final SLI. The system cross-references party names, addresses, commodity descriptions, values, and quantities across commercial invoices, packing lists, and purchase orders to detect inconsistencies. When conflicts are found, CaseMark alerts you to the specific discrepancy and requests clarification about which information is correct. This validation process prevents the creation of an SLI with internal contradictions or information that conflicts with other shipping documents, thereby avoiding customs holds and compliance issues that arise from documentary inconsistencies.

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