What is a bill of lading?
The bill of lading or commonly referred to as BOL or B/L is a legally required document needed to move freight.
The BOL works as a contract between a freight carrier and shipper and a document of title. The BOL is a legally binding document provided to the carrier detailing the shipping and delivery information and the details of the shipment. A proper BOL is needed to process and invoice a shipment correctly.
When you book a shipment with Quickway Logistics, the freight bill of lading is automatically generated based on the shipment details entered during the quoting and booking process. The bill of lading should be provided to the carrier on pick up. A copy of it should also be attached to the packaged freight.
Example of a Bill of Lading
Bill of lading necessities:
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Names and addresses: The names of the shipper, consignee, and or 3rd party bill to must be legible and easy to locate.
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Purchase orders or special reference numbers: reference numbers are important to the shipper in that they may be internal numbers used for releasing a shipment or accepting a delivery.
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Special instructions: Special Instructions are used to provide the carrier with details such as if a liftgate will be needed to delivery notifications.
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Date: Shippers must provide the date in which the shipment is to be picked up. This can also be used for tracing.
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Description of items: Shippers must notate the number of units being shipped, dimensions and weight, and the material being shipped.
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Type of Packaging: The packaging type shows the carrier how you are shipping your freight, whether you are using cartons, crates, pallets and/or drums.
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Freight class: The NMFC Freight classes can impact the cost of your shipment. Freight shipments are broken down into 18 classes based on weight, dimensions, density, storage capability, ease of handling, value, and liability.
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Hazardous Material Designation: The shipper must clearly cite and apply all special rules when shipping Hazardous freight.