Bill of lading template
Fill in a straight (non-negotiable) bill of lading and download it as a PDF, or download a blank BOL to fill in by hand. Free, no sign-up, and your data stays in your browser.
Filled with example details — replace them with your own.
- Handling units
- 22
- Total weight
- 40,000 lbs
- Freight terms
- Prepaid
- Hazmat
- No
Your data stays in your browser. The PDF is made on this device; nothing is uploaded or saved.
What a bill of lading is
The bill of lading (BOL) is the shipping document that travels with the freight. It is the receipt the carrier gives for the goods, it records the terms they are carried under, and once the consignee signs it at delivery it is the proof of delivery the carrier needs to get paid.
What must be on it
Federal rules for for-hire, non-exempt motor carriers (49 CFR 373.101) require a receipt or bill of lading for property carried in interstate or foreign commerce, showing at least:
- the names of the consignor (shipper) and consignee;
- the origin and destination points;
- the number of packages;
- a description of the freight;
- the weight, volume or measurement of the freight, if the rate depends on it.
In practice a BOL also carries the BOL and PO numbers, the carrier and trailer, the seal number, who pays the freight, any special instructions and the signatures of the shipper, the driver and the consignee. The carrier must keep a record of this information (the same section points to the record rules in 49 CFR part 379).
Tips for drivers and carriers
- Count the pieces before you sign, and write any shortage or damage on the BOL at pickup.
- Write the seal number on the BOL and check it matches the seal on the trailer.
- Get the consignee to sign and date it at delivery and note any exceptions; that signed copy is your POD.
The liability and signature wording on this template is plain-language and written by us; it is not a copy of any standard industry form. The carrier’s own terms and the law that applies to the shipment control.
Delivered the load? Bill it with the trucking invoice generator, or set up the next one with the rate confirmation template.
Frequently asked questions
Is this bill of lading template free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it is free and there is no sign-up. Fill it in and download the PDF, print it, or download a blank BOL to fill in by hand.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The PDF is made in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded or saved on our servers, and it is gone when you close the page.
What is a straight bill of lading?
A straight bill of lading names the consignee the goods are delivered to and cannot be transferred to someone else by endorsing it, which is why it is called non-negotiable. It is the usual BOL for domestic truck freight. An order (negotiable) bill of lading is different: it can be transferred, and the carrier releases the goods only against the original document.
Who fills out the bill of lading, the shipper or the carrier?
Usually the shipper prepares it, because the shipper knows what is being shipped. The driver checks the piece count against the BOL, notes any exceptions (damaged or short freight) before signing, and the consignee signs it at delivery. The signed copy becomes the proof of delivery the carrier sends with its invoice.
What do prepaid, collect and third party mean?
They say who pays the freight charges. Prepaid: the shipper pays. Collect: the consignee pays. Third party: someone else, often a broker or a logistics company, is billed, and its name and address go in the third party bill-to box.
Does this template work for hazardous materials?
It marks hazmat lines and adds an emergency response phone number, but hazmat shipping papers have detailed requirements of their own (the hazmat description and the shipper's certification). Check them against 49 CFR Part 172 or use your hazmat shipper's own shipping paper.
More free trucking paperwork
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