Bill of lading
A bill of lading (BOL) is a shipping document issued for freight that records what is being shipped, from whom, to whom and by which carrier. It acts as the carrier's receipt for the goods, sets out the terms of carriage and, for some ocean shipments, serves as a document of title.
What a bill of lading contains
Formats vary by country, mode and carrier, but most bills of lading include the same core details.
- Shipper and consignee names and addresses.
- Carrier name, vehicle or trailer, and a BOL number.
- Pickup date and delivery address or stops.
- Number of handling units, such as pallets or cartons, and total weight.
- Description of the goods, including any hazardous goods information.
- Special handling instructions, such as temperature or stacking limits.
- Signatures of shipper and driver at pickup, and consignee at delivery.
How a bill of lading is used
The BOL is prepared by the shipper, signed by the driver when the freight is loaded, and travels with the shipment. At delivery, the receiver checks the handling units against it and signs, noting any damage or shortage.
For example, a distributor loads 6 pallets of bottled water and 2 mixed pallets of snacks for a supermarket. The BOL lists 8 pallets, their total weight and each pallet's SSCC label number. At the store, the receiver counts 8 pallets, notes one damaged corner, and signs. That signed copy becomes part of the proof of delivery.
Bill of lading vs delivery note and packing list
A bill of lading is about carriage: it covers the freight as the carrier sees it, in handling units and weight. A delivery note describes the goods delivered to the customer, often line by line against their order. A load packing list details what is on each pallet. On B2B deliveries all three often travel together.
The most common error is a BOL that doesn't match what was loaded, because it was printed from the order rather than from the confirmed load. Any mismatch becomes a dispute at delivery. Legal requirements for bills of lading differ by country and transport mode, so confirm yours with your carrier or freight forwarder.
How NextStock handles bills of lading
NextStock builds loads from packed orders and pallets, and produces bills of lading, delivery notes, load packing lists and GS1 SSCC pallet labels. Dispatch requires every unit on the load to be scanned as loaded, so documents reflect what went on the vehicle. See B2B freight and loads.
Part of the NextStock warehouse glossary. Browse the full glossary