Free Bill of Lading Template & Generator

What Is a Bill of Lading?

A bill of lading, often shortened to BOL or B/L, is the single most important document in a freight shipment. A carrier issues it to a shipper when it picks up the goods, and it does three jobs at the same time.

First, it is a receipt. It proves the carrier took the freight and lists what was handed over, in what condition, and how much it weighed. Second, it is a contract of carriage. The terms printed on it set out the carrier's duties and its liability if the freight is lost or damaged. Third, when it is a negotiable bill of lading, it is a document of title, which means the paper itself represents ownership of the goods.

A bill of lading is not a priced invoice. It shows no unit prices, no tax, and no money total. Instead it records the commodity description, the number of handling units and packages, the weight, the freight class, who pays the carrier, and the certifications that make it a legal shipping document. If you also need a document that shows value, that is a separate commercial invoice.

This tool produces the straight (non-negotiable) bill of lading used for most domestic less-than-truckload (LTL) freight in the United States. It follows the standard VICS-style Uniform Straight Bill of Lading layout that carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders recognize on sight.

Straight vs Order vs Bearer Bill of Lading

There are three ways a bill of lading can be issued, and the difference matters because it decides who is allowed to receive the goods.

• Straight bill of lading is non-negotiable. The freight is released only to the named consignee. It cannot be endorsed or signed over to anyone else. This is the everyday BOL for domestic truck freight, and it is what the generator on this page creates.
• Order bill of lading is negotiable. It can be endorsed and transferred, so ownership of the goods can change hands while they are still moving. This is the type used with letters of credit in international trade, because a bank can hold the document as security.
• Bearer bill of lading is delivered to whoever physically holds the paper. It is the least common and the riskiest, because anyone who ends up with the document can claim the freight.

A straight bill of lading does not by itself transfer ownership of the goods, and it is not a demand for payment. It is a receipt and a contract. Keep that distinction clear: the priced sale is handled by your invoice, not by the BOL.

What a Straight Bill of Lading Includes

A complete straight BOL carries a fixed set of blocks. This blank bill of lading template fills them in for you.

1. Ship From (shipper): your legal business name, full address, and an internal shipper reference number (SID#) if you use one.
2. Ship To (consignee): the legal name and full address of the party the freight is delivered to, plus a consignee reference (CID#) if there is one. On a straight BOL the goods are released only to this named party.
3. Third Party / Bill To: an optional block for when a third party pays the freight, such as a broker or the buyer's logistics partner. It appears on the document only when you fill it in.
4. Carrier details: the carrier name, the SCAC code (the four-letter Standard Carrier Alpha Code), the PRO number the carrier uses to track the shipment, the trailer number, and the seal number(s).
5. BOL number and date: your own numbering plus an optional customer or purchase order number. Everyone quotes the BOL number in messages about the shipment.
6. Freight Charge Terms: exactly one of Prepaid, Collect, or 3rd Party.
7. Special instructions: free text for the driver, such as a liftgate requirement or a call-before-delivery note.
8. Carrier Information table: one row per freight line, with handling units, packages, weight, the hazardous materials flag, the commodity description, the NMFC number, and the freight class. A grand total row sums the handling units and the weight.
9. COD amount and declared value: optional money fields that sit outside the freight table.
10. Certifications and signatures: a shipper certification and signature line, and a carrier certification and signature line, plus the Trailer Loaded and Freight Counted boxes.

How to Fill Out the Freight Lines

The freight table is the heart of the bill of lading, and it is where a BOL differs most from an invoice. Each line describes a distinct commodity, not a priced product.

• Handling Unit (Qty + Type): how the freight is palletized, for example 10 Pallets or 2 Skids. This is what a forklift moves.
• Package (Qty + Type): the individual packages stacked on the handling units, for example 400 Cartons or 40 Bags.
• Weight: the total weight of that line. The tool adds every line into a grand total.
• H.M.: mark this with an X only when the commodity is a U.S. Department of Transportation hazardous material.
• Commodity Description: a plain description of the goods, for example "Machine parts, NOI" (not otherwise indexed).
• NMFC #: the National Motor Freight Classification item number for that commodity.
• Class: the freight class, one of the eighteen NMFC classes from 50 to 500.

Here is a worked example. Line one is 10 Pallets, 400 Cartons, 2,500 lb, class 85, "Machine parts, NOI". Line two is 2 Skids, 40 Bags, 1,000 lb, class 70, "Plastic pellets". The grand total row shows 12 handling units and 3,500 lb. There is no money subtotal, tax, or total anywhere on the document, because a bill of lading never carries prices.

Freight Charge Terms: Prepaid, Collect, or 3rd Party

Freight charge terms answer one question: who pays the carrier? A straight bill of lading uses exactly three options.

• Prepaid: the shipper pays the freight charges. This is the most common term when the seller ships to a customer and builds freight into the price.
• Collect: the consignee pays the carrier on delivery. This is common when the buyer arranges and pays for transport.
• 3rd Party: a party named on the Bill To block pays, neither the shipper nor the consignee. This is normal when a freight broker or a managed logistics provider is billed.

Pick the term on the BOL tab and it prints on the face of the document so the carrier bills the right party.

Freight Class, NMFC, and Declared Value

Freight class comes from the National Motor Freight Classification system. It groups every commodity into one of eighteen classes, from 50 for dense, easy-to-handle freight up to 500 for light, bulky, or fragile freight. A higher class means a higher rate, because low-density and awkward freight takes up more trailer space and is harder to handle. The NMFC number points to the exact commodity listing that sets the class. This tool lets you choose any of the eighteen valid classes and does not invent classes outside the 50 to 500 range.

Declared value protects you if the freight is lost or damaged. Carrier liability on interstate truck freight is governed by the Carmack Amendment and by the carrier's tariff, and it can be limited unless the shipper states a value in writing. The declared value clause on the bill of lading invites you to do exactly that. Declaring a value can raise the freight rate, but it means the carrier is on the hook for the amount you stated rather than a low per-pound tariff cap. If the shipment is high value, declare it.

Certifications and Signatures

A bill of lading is signed twice. The shipper certifies that the materials are properly classified, packaged, marked, and labeled, and are in proper condition for transportation under the applicable U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. The carrier acknowledges receipt of the packages and any required placards and certifies that the property was received in good order, except as noted. The Trailer Loaded box records whether the shipper or the driver loaded the trailer, and the Freight Counted box records who counted the pieces. These certifications are what turn a packing list into a legal freight document, and they are different from the signed declaration on a commercial invoice.

Bill of Lading vs Commercial Invoice vs Packing Slip

These three documents often travel together, but they answer different questions. The bill of lading is the contract of carriage and the receipt for the freight; it is signed by the carrier. The commercial invoice is the priced customs document for an international shipment; it shows value, HS codes, and country of origin. The packing slip is a simple contents list for the receiver to check off on arrival. Only the commercial invoice carries prices. Use the BOL for the freight, and pair it with a commercial invoice when the shipment crosses a border. PinFlow has free generators for all three so you can produce a matching set.

Authoritative Sources

For the legal background on bills of lading and carrier liability, see the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which administers the interstate motor carrier rules in 49 CFR. For a plain-language definition of the receipt, contract, and document-of-title roles, see Investopedia's Bill of Lading entry. The layout this tool follows is the standard Uniform Straight Bill of Lading, the VICS-style format used across the North American LTL industry.

Frequently asked questions

What is a bill of lading?

A bill of lading (BOL) is the legal document a carrier issues to a shipper when it picks up freight. It is three things at once: a receipt for the goods, a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier, and, when it is negotiable, a document of title. It is not a priced invoice, so it shows no unit prices and no money total. It records what is being shipped, its weight and freight class, who pays the freight, and the shipper and carrier certifications.

What is the difference between a straight and an order bill of lading?

A straight bill of lading is non-negotiable: the freight is delivered only to the named consignee, and it cannot be endorsed or transferred to anyone else. An order bill of lading is negotiable: it can be endorsed and transferred, so it is used with letters of credit and lets ownership of the goods change hands while they are in transit. A bearer bill of lading is delivered to whoever physically holds it. This generator produces the straight, non-negotiable bill of lading used for most domestic LTL freight.

Do I put prices on a bill of lading?

No. A bill of lading is a freight document, not a commercial or tax invoice, so it never carries unit prices, tax, or a money subtotal or total. It records the commodity description, the number of handling units and packages, the weight, the NMFC freight class, and who pays the carrier. If you need a priced document for customs or payment, use a commercial invoice alongside the BOL.

What are the freight charge terms Prepaid, Collect, and 3rd Party?

Freight charge terms state who pays the carrier. Prepaid means the shipper pays the freight charges. Collect means the consignee (the receiver) pays them on delivery. 3rd Party means a separate party named on the Bill To block pays, which is common when a broker or the buyer's logistics partner is responsible. These are the only three terms a straight bill of lading carries.

What is freight class and the NMFC number?

Freight class is the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) class that groups a commodity by how hard it is to ship. There are eighteen classes, from 50 for dense, easy-to-handle freight up to 500 for light, bulky, or fragile freight; a higher class means a higher rate. The NMFC number identifies the specific commodity listing within that system. This tool lets you pick any of the eighteen valid classes (50 to 500) and does not invent classes outside that range.

What does the H.M. column mean on a bill of lading?

The H.M. column flags hazardous materials. Mark it with an X when the commodity on that line is a U.S. Department of Transportation hazardous material, because hazmat freight has to be properly classified, packaged, marked, and labeled, and the shipper certifies that on the bill of lading. Leave it blank for non-hazardous freight.

What is declared value on a bill of lading?

Declared value is the value the shipper states in writing for the freight, and it governs the carrier's liability limit if the goods are lost or damaged. Where the rate depends on value, the shipper is required to declare it; if no value is declared, the carrier's liability can be limited by its tariff or by the Carmack Amendment. Stating a declared value can raise the freight rate but protects the full value of the shipment.

Is this bill of lading generator free?

Yes. This bill of lading generator is completely free, needs no signup, and creates unlimited bills of lading. Everything runs in your browser, so your shipper, consignee, and freight data never leaves your computer. The exported PDF carries no watermark and no branding.