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BOLFORM

What Is a Bill of Lading?

A reference for the bill of lading (BOL): who is named on it, what information it holds, and what each part of a standard form is for.

What a bill of lading is used for

The BOL identifies a shipment for everyone who handles it. It tells the carrier where to pick the freight up and where to deliver it, describes the goods with piece counts and weights, and records the freight charge terms.

A standard form is completed in a fixed order: shipper, consignee, carrier and shipment details, commodity lines, then signatures.

Parties named on a bill of lading

Parties on a bill of lading and their role on the form
PartyRole on the form
Shipper (Ship From)The party handing over the freight, at the physical pickup location.
Consignee (Ship To)Whoever receives the freight at the other end, at the physical receiving address.
CarrierNamed in the Shipment Details, with its SCAC code. The form has a carrier signature area for the carrier or driver.
Third party (Bill To)Only when a third party is paying the freight charges, in a separate block of the form.

How a bill of lading is laid out

The sheet below is the empty form used on this site. Its seven sections run in this order:

  1. Ship From: the shipper's name and address.
  2. Ship To: the consignee's name and address.
  3. Third Party Freight Charges - Bill To: used only when someone other than the shipper or consignee pays.
  4. Shipment Details: date, Bill of Lading No., carrier, trailer and seal numbers, SCAC and Pro No.
  5. Freight Charge Terms: Prepaid, Collect or 3rd Party.
  6. Commodity Information: one line per item, with totals.
  7. Signatures: shipper and carrier, pickup date, and who loaded and counted the freight.

BILL OF LADING

BOL No.Date

Ship From

SID#
FOB

Ship To

CID#
Location No.

Third Party Freight Charges - Bill To

Account No.

Shipment Details

Carrier Name
Trailer No.
Seal Number(s)
SCAC
Pro No.

Freight Charge Terms

  • Prepaid
  • Collect
  • 3rd Party
Commodity lines
Customer Order No.# Pkgs.Pallet/SlipHandling Unit QTYHandling Unit TypeCommodity DescriptionWeightH.M. (X)NMFC No.ClassCOD AmountFee Terms
TOTAL

Shipper Signature

Carrier Signature

Pickup Date

Trailer Loaded By Shipper / Driver

Freight Counted By Shipper / Driver

The seven sections of a standard bill of lading form (read-only).

Need a copy to print? Use the blank bill of lading form.

The form on this site

The bolform.com form follows the VICS Standard layout. It is the layout shown above, and it can be downloaded as a PDF, Word or Excel file.

Terms and abbreviations on the form

Terms and abbreviations used on a bill of lading form
TermMeaning
BOLBill of lading.
SID# / CID#Shipper ID and Consignee ID: optional reference numbers that make a shipment easier to trace.
SCACThe carrier code.
Pro NumberAssigned by the carrier rather than generated by the shipper.
Pkgs. / QTY / TypeHow many pieces, and what they are packed in, such as pallets, cartons, drums or crates.
H.M. (X)Marked for hazardous materials when applicable.
NMFC No. and ClassFreight classification fields on each commodity line.
CODCollect on Delivery, with an amount and fee terms when applicable.
PODProof of Delivery: the signed delivery receipt.
  • The Bill of Lading No. is the document's own number. It is not the tracking number.

Create a bill of lading

To complete a bill of lading rather than read about one, use the online form. It follows the layout above and needs no account.

Create a bill of lading online →