What is Bill of Lading (BOL) in Freight Shipping
If you’ve used freight shipping before then you’ve probably heard the term “BOL.” You’re probably wondering, “What does BOL stand for?” The BOL acronym is short for “bill of lading,” and it’s an official document used for virtually all freight shipments.
Here at FreightRun, we’re not just about connecting people with quality shipping providers. We also want to educate our customers to allow them to have a better shipping experience.
The more people understand a service, the more they’ll enjoy it. We hope that by thoroughly educating you about freight shipping we’ll supply you with the tools you need to transport your skids or crates with the utmost efficiency.
With that in mind, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on bill of lading forms. You’ll learn what they are, what they’re used for, and how they can help you during the shipping process.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know on this important legal document.
BOL - Bill of Lading Definition
Lot’s of people ask us “what is bill of lading?” or “what does BOL mean in shipping?” Basically, it is the document provides a detailed list of the goods being shipped. It’s also a binding agreement between the shipper and the consignee. It includes all the details necessary for the carrier to process your package and ensure it arrives to you safely.
The process starts by the shipper filling in a blank bill of lading. Once a shipment is issued an original bill of lading it can be released to the carrier to be shipped.
What is a Bill of Lading Number
Along with your BOL, you’ll also get a BOL number. This is a type of purchase order number. It’s a unique identifying number for your package and is used to help track it throughout the shipment. It doesn’t matter whether you're sending something big or small, urgent or unimportant. Everyone wants to be able to track their package. This number will let you do that.
The bill of lading number format can vary depending on a number of factors. The number should be clearly visible on your form.
What’s the Difference Between a BOL and a Freight Bill
This is another common question people ask in regards to bills of lading and while shipping Less than Truckload freight on Common Carriers . The Freight Bill is the Invoice from the Carrier or the 3PL for the freight charges. Still, a driver arriving at a shipper after they show him/her the freight they are shipping might say "and where are the bills?" by which he means where is the bill of lading - he does not mean where is the Freight Invoice as drivers normally never see a Freight Invoice. Others may use "freight bill" as synonymous with "bill of lading" as a bill of lading is for freight; but this is mostly an anachronism from the days when freight mostly ran over the railroads. Today, in common parlance between drivers, their dispatchers, 3pls, shippers and receivers "freight bill" means "freight invoice" and "bills of lading" can be "bols." In the days when the railroad was king, "freight bills" and "bols" may have been interchangeable but no longer; to avoid misunderstandings avoid saying "freight bill" when you mean "bills of lading" or "bol."
While “bill of lading” is the more official term, many in the industry still refer to a BOL as a freight bill.
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What Do You Need to Know About a Bill of Lading
After people get the answer to “What does bill of lading mean?” the next thing they ask is “What do I need to know?
Your BOL will contain lots of important information about your package. You'll be able to see the address it was shipped from, the address it's supposed to be delivered to, the total weight of the package, it's freight class, and the type of good that are being shipped. Some directions that should be followed while delivering the package may also be included.
Bill of lading rules and regulations agreed to between you and your carrier are generally included in the form as well. However, some packages will also include a short form bill of lading, which excludes these terms and conditions.
Bill of lading requirements set out by the DOT state that a BOL must be included in order to ship anything.
Common Uses for a Bill of Lading
The shipping bill of lading serves three main purposes throughout the shipping process.
- Shipping Contract: It also acts as a contract between you and your carrier. If there are any issues with the delivery of your package, or a dispute occurs, the BOL can be referred to in order to determine what exactly both parties agreed to when you paid for your shipment.
- Defines Who The Goods Belong To:Another role the BOL serves is to let people know who the goods contained within the package actually belong to. This helps ensure your package will arrive at the expected location and won’t accidentally end up in the hands of someone else.
Who Issues the Bill of Lading
The BOL for a package is issued by the carrier (or the freight broker on behalf of the carrier). The carrier is the entity in charge of transporting your package and ensuring it is delivered to you safely and on time.
By agreeing to the bill of lading, a contract is put in place between the shipper (the person sending the package) and the carrier (the person delivering the package). Should anything happen during transport, the carrier will be held responsible for any damage that occurs to the goods being shipped.
A bill of lading isn’t just for the person sending the package, it also provides insurance for the carrier as well. Assuming the carrier follows the directions listed on the BOL form, any dispute from the person sending the package be null and void.
Because of this, a bill of lading is beneficial for both parties.
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Types of Bills of Lading
There are many different variations when it comes to bills of lading. For the purposes of this article, we have summarized the most common types of BOL for you to review.
- Original Bill of Lading: This is the original contract agreed to between you (the shipper) and your carrier, outlining the various terms and conditions involved in your shipment.
- Straight Bill of Lading: This is a non-negotiable bill of lading that requires the person who is receiving the package to present identification upon delivery.
- “Order” Bill of Lading: This is essentially the opposite of a straight bill of lading. This form is negotiable, meaning the package can be delivered to anyone who presents the BOL, assuming it’s been endorsed.
- Express Bill of Lading: This type of BOL is used to speed up the shipping process. When this is used, a physical bill of lading isn’t produced, and one doesn’t need to be presented upon delivery. This saves both time and costs.
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