Bill of Lading (BOL) Guide: Fields, Types & Sample

What the bill of lading does

The BOL plays three roles simultaneously:

1. Receipt for freight. The carrier acknowledges receipt of the goods described in the document, in the count and apparent condition stated.
2. Contract of carriage. The terms (express or by reference to a tariff or rate confirmation) under which the carrier moves the freight.
3. Document of title (in order BOLs). Possession of the original signed BOL is required to take delivery; control of the BOL is control of the goods.

Required fields under 49 CFR 373.101

For for-hire, non-exempt motor carrier shipments in interstate commerce, the federal regulation at 49 CFR 373.101 requires the BOL to contain at minimum:

• Names of consignor and consignee. Shipper at origin and receiver at destination.
• Origin and destination points. Locations of pickup and delivery.
• Total charges due. Including nature and amount of any special-service charges and the points where the special service was rendered.

In practice, carriers and shippers include substantially more information so the document is operationally useful and supports invoicing, payment, and claims.

Sample BOL template

Here’s a representative bill of lading layout suitable for a domestic LTL or truckload shipment. Adapt fields as your shipment requires.

This is an illustrative sample, not a fillable form. Use your TMS, carrier portal, or a published template for actual shipments.

Straight BOL vs Order BOL

How to fill out a BOL: step by step

1. Shipper and consignee. Full legal name, complete address, contact name and phone.
2. Carrier identification. Carrier legal name, USDOT, MC number, pro / PRO number.
3. Broker identification (if applicable). Broker name, MC number, contact, rate confirmation reference.
4. Freight description. Number of pieces, packaging type, dimensions, weight per piece or per line item, NMFC class and item number for LTL, commodity description.
5. Hazmat description if applicable. Proper shipping name, UN/NA number, hazard class, packing group, total quantity, emergency response phone. See our hazmat freight guide.
6. Freight terms. Prepaid (shipper pays), Collect (consignee pays), or Third-Party Billing (third party pays).
7. Declared value. Total value of the shipment for cargo insurance purposes; affects liability limits.
8. Special instructions. Lift-gate, inside delivery, appointment required, hazmat emergency contacts, accessorial services.
9. References. PO number, customer reference, contract number, project ID.
10. Shipper certification and signature. Shipper certifies the description is accurate and the shipment is in proper condition for transport.
11. Carrier signature at pickup. Driver acknowledges receipt of stated quantity in apparent good order, noting any visible exceptions.

At delivery: the consignee’s job

The BOL isn’t done at delivery — that’s when the second-most-important signing happens.

1. Verify piece count. Count the pallets, boxes, or units against the BOL.
2. Inspect for visible damage. Walk the load before signing; visible damage noted on the BOL becomes the basis for any concealed-damage extension later.
3. Note exceptions specifically. “Two boxes crushed” or “pallet 3 of 5 missing” or “water stain on outer carton, contents unknown.” Not “damaged” generically.
4. Sign and date. Signature with the noted exceptions.
5. Get a copy. The driver leaves a copy with the consignee.

If the consignee signs “clean” (no exceptions noted) and later discovers damage, the claim is harder — the carrier’s defense is “you signed for it in good condition.” Concealed-damage claims are possible but require prompt notification (typically within 15 days) and specific evidence the damage occurred in transit.

Electronic BOL

Modern shipping increasingly runs on electronic BOL (eBOL) workflows. The carrier or broker’s TMS generates a digital BOL that the shipper and consignee sign on a tablet, phone, or computer. Federal law (UETA and E-SIGN) recognizes electronic records and signatures as equivalent to paper, so eBOL holds up legally exactly like paper BOL.

Benefits: instant distribution to all parties, no lost paperwork, automatic linkage to TMS records, photo attachments for condition documentation, GPS-tagged delivery confirmation. Most modern brokerage operations (including ATI) work this way by default.

Common BOL errors that cost money

• Wrong NMFC class. Under-classifying causes reclassification charges; over-classifying costs you on the front end. Use the ATI freight class calculator.
• Wrong weight. Inspection reweighs result in reclassification charges. Use a calibrated scale.
• Missing accessorial services. Lift-gate not noted on BOL but used at delivery becomes a surprise charge.
• Wrong consignee address. Re-delivery and reconsignment fees.
• Missing hazmat info. Carrier may refuse the load, OR ship it improperly and create a civil-penalty exposure.
• Generic damage notations. “Damaged” without specifics undermines claims.
• No declared value. Defaults to per-pound minimums, which on light high-value freight is far below replacement cost.

BOL retention

Carriers must retain BOLs for a defined period under 49 CFR 379. Shippers should retain their copies for the longer of their internal records-retention policy or the 9-month Carmack claim window for damage and the 2-year window for filing suit. Electronic BOL copies satisfy retention requirements.

Related ATI freight resources

NMFC class lookup for your line items: ATI freight class calculator.