What is a bill of lading (BOL) form? Understand its importance for secure goods transportation and to create your own.

Who uses a bill of lading?

• Shippers (Consignors): The sender of the goods.
• Carriers: The transport company moving the shipment.
• Receivers (Consignees): The party receiving the goods.

What information does a bill of lading include (and how to create one)?

While BOL formats can vary, the following details are typically included. If you are drafting a BOL be sure to include:

• Shipper and receiver information: Names, addresses, and contact details.
• Carrier information: Transport company responsible for the shipment.
• Shipment details: Description, quantity, weight, and packaging type (e.g., pallets, crates).
• Freight classification: Cargo category for pricing and transport rules.
• Declared value: The estimated worth of the shipment.
• Special instructions: Handling requirements or notes and payment terms (e.g., fragile, temperature-sensitive).
• Signatures: All parties need to sign, this includes shipper, carrier and receiver.
• Hazardous materials: Details if the shipment includes dangerous goods.

How does a bill of lading work?

Issued by shipper:

• Shipper fills out the BOL and hands the goods to the carrier.
• Carrier signs the BOL, confirming receipt of the shipment.

Goods in transit:

• The carrier transports the shipment to the receiver.

Delivery & acknowledgement:

• Upon receiving the goods, the receiver signs the BOL, confirming the shipment arrived as expected.
• Both parties retain a copy for their records.

Types of bill of lading forms:

There are several types of BOLs, each suited to different shipping needs:

Straight bill of lading (Non-negotiable):

• Used for prepaid shipments to a designated recipient.
• Ownership cannot be transferred to another party.

Order bill of lading (Negotiable):

• Allows the receiver to transfer ownership of goods to another party after delivery.
• Common in international trade.

Clean bill of lading:

• Issued when goods are delivered in perfect condition.
• Indicates no damage or discrepancies.

Claused/Dirty bill of lading:

• Documents damage, loss, or issues with the shipment.
• Can lead to disputes or payment delays.

Through bill of lading:

• Covers shipments that pass through multiple locations or borders.
• May require additional inland or ocean BOLs.

Multimodal bill of lading:

• Used when goods are transported by multiple modes (e.g., rail, sea, and truck).
• Sometimes called a combined transport bill of lading.

Short form bill of lading:

• A simplified version with basic shipment details only.
• No terms and conditions on the back, often used for low-risk, routine shipments.