# Bill of Lading (BOL)


A bill of lading (BOL) is a legal document a carrier issues to a shipper that lists what is being transported, who ships it, who receives it, and the agreed terms. It serves three roles at once: a receipt for the goods, a contract of carriage, and a document of title.

## What a bill of lading contains

A BOL lists the shipper and consignee names and addresses, the carrier, the ship date, a description of the freight, the piece count, the weight, the freight class, and any special handling. A BOL number ties the paperwork to the physical shipment so the load can be tracked and the receiver can reconcile what arrived against what was ordered.

## Types of bill of lading

A straight BOL is non-negotiable and consigns goods to a named party. An order BOL is negotiable and can transfer title while the goods are in transit. A VICS BOL is the retail standard that pairs with an EDI 856 advance ship notice, and the SCAC and PRO number printed on it let the shipper, carrier, and receiver all reference the same load.

## Bill of lading vs packing slip vs commercial invoice

These three documents often travel together but do different jobs.

| Document | Prepared by | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bill of lading | Shipper, signed by the carrier | Receipt for freight, contract of carriage, document of title |
| Packing slip | Shipper | Lists the contents of each package so the receiver can check them |
| Commercial invoice | Seller | States value for customs on international shipments |

## What is on a VICS bill of lading

The VICS BOL is the standard form for retail freight in the US. Retailers match its fields against the ASN, so a mismatch in piece count or PO numbers can hold up receiving.

- BOL number assigned by the shipper
- Ship-from and ship-to names and addresses
- Third-party freight bill-to, if a 3PL or buyer pays
- Carrier name, SCAC, and PRO number
- Freight terms: prepaid, collect, or third party
- Special instructions and appointment details
- Customer order information: PO numbers, packages, weight, pallet or slip
- Carrier information: handling units, package type, weight, NMFC number, and freight class
- Shipper and carrier signatures

## Master bill of lading

When one truck carries several shipments, each with its own BOL, a master bill of lading covers the whole load and lists the underlying BOLs. Retail consolidators and multi-stop truckload shipments use it so the carrier signs one document while each receiver still gets its own paperwork.

## FAQ

### What is a bill of lading used for?

A bill of lading does three jobs at once: it is the carrier's receipt for the goods, the contract of carriage between shipper and carrier, and a document of title that proves who owns the freight.

### What is the difference between a bill of lading and an invoice?

A bill of lading covers the physical movement of goods and travels with the shipment. An invoice, sent as an EDI 810, is the supplier's request for payment. They reference the same order but serve different purposes.

### Is a bill of lading the same as an ASN?

No. The ASN, or EDI 856, is the electronic notice of a shipment's contents and packing. The bill of lading is the carrier's transport document. They describe the same shipment and usually travel together.

### Who fills out the bill of lading?

The shipper prepares the BOL. The carrier's driver signs it at pickup, which confirms the carrier received the freight as described.

### What is the difference between a BOL number and a PRO number?

The shipper assigns the BOL number to its paperwork. The carrier assigns the PRO number to track the shipment in its network. Both usually appear on the BOL.

## Sources

- [FMCSA shipping documentation](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov)
- [GS1 US logistics labels](https://www.gs1us.org)