Bill of lading template
A straight bill of lading for a shipment: shipper, consignee, carrier, freight description with pieces and weight, charges and signatures.
- ๐บ๐ธ US format ยท Letter size
- Free
This is a sample form. Check tax amounts against IRS rules and your accountant's advice.
Fill in what you need. The preview updates as you type.
What you type is not saved on our server.
Check your carrier's form
This is a general template, not legal advice. This short form bill of lading is generic. Many carriers and brokers require their own BOL or a VICS format with their terms printed on it, so ask before pickup. It does not replace hazardous materials training, and state and carrier rules on liability vary.
1 / 1
Straight Bill of Lading
Short form. Not negotiable.
| BOL number | BOL-2026-1107 | Ship date | November 9, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Acme Freight Lines Inc. | SCAC | AFLI |
| PRO number | PRO 7720 4415 | Freight charges | Prepaid (shipper pays) |
| Ship from (shipper) | Contoso Coffee Roasters LLC 910 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 Sam Park, (555) 010-0122 | Ship to (consignee) | Northwind Cafe 500 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105 Taylor Kim, (555) 010-0178 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special instructions | Liftgate needed at delivery. Call consignee 1 hour before arrival. Receiving hours 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, Monday to Friday. | ||
| Pieces | Package type | HM | Description of articles, marks and exceptions | NMFC # | Class | Weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Pallet | ย | Roasted coffee beans in 5 lb bags, shrink wrapped | ย | 65 | 1, |
| 2 | Crate | ย | Commercial coffee grinders, new, in original cartons | ย | 85 | 310 |
| 12 | Carton | ย | Paper cups and lids | ย | 100 | 264 |
| ย | ย | ย | ย | ย | ย | ย |
| ย | ย | ย | ย | ย | ย | ย |
| ย | ย | ย | ย | ย | ย | ย |
| 18 | ย | ย | Total | 2, | ||
| Declared value | Where the rate depends on value, the shipper must state the agreed or declared value in writing. The agreed or declared value of the property is stated by the shipper to be not more than $__________ per ________. |
|---|---|
| Liability note | Liability limitation for loss or damage in this shipment may apply. See 49 U.S.C. 14706(c)(1)(A) and (B). |
Received, subject to the rates and contracts agreed in writing between the carrier and the shipper, if any, and otherwise to the carrier's rates, classifications and rules in effect on the ship date, which the carrier will provide on request: the property described above in apparent good order, except as noted, consigned and destined as shown. This bill is not negotiable and the goods are to be delivered to the consignee named above.
| Trailer number | ย | Seal number | ย |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipper signature | ย | Date | ย |
| Carrier signature | ย | Pickup date | ย |
| Consignee signature | ย | Delivery date | ย |
How to use it
Enter the BOL number and ship date, the shipper and consignee addresses, the carrier with its SCAC and PRO number, and who pays the freight. List each handling unit with pieces, package type, description, NMFC number, class and weight; the totals fill in at the bottom of the table. Mark HM with an X for any hazardous line.
Print three copies. The driver signs at pickup, the shipper keeps one, and the consignee signs on delivery and notes any damage or shortage before signing.
Things to watch
The freight class and weight drive the price, so match what you quoted. If you want the carrier to be liable for more than its standard limit, write a declared value and check the carrier's rules, since a higher value can cost more.
Calculators that go with this
Frequently asked questions
What is a straight bill of lading?
It names a consignee and is not negotiable, so the carrier delivers to that consignee and the bill cannot be signed over to someone else to transfer the goods. Under federal law, a carrier issuing one marks it nonnegotiable or not negotiable, which this form does under the title.
What is the difference between prepaid, collect and third party?
Prepaid means the shipper pays the freight. Collect means the consignee pays on delivery. Third party means someone else, such as a logistics company or the buyer's head office, gets the bill; put their name and address in the box that appears.
Where do I find the NMFC number and freight class?
The National Motor Freight Classification lists both by commodity. Your carrier or broker can tell you the class they quoted. Density, how easy the freight is to handle and its value all affect the class.
Is what I type saved anywhere?
No. Everything stays in your browser and nothing is sent to our server. If you refresh the page it is gone, so print, save a PDF or download the DOCX when you are done.