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Bill of Lading (BOL)
Definition
A bill of lading (BOL) is the document a carrier issues for freight it receives: a receipt for the goods and the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier.
In simple English
It is the paperwork that travels with the freight. It proves the carrier received the goods, says where they are going, and sets the terms of the move.
What it means
The FHWA freight glossary calls it "a transportation document that is the contract of carriage containing the terms and condition between shipper and carrier."[1] Under the Carmack Amendment, an interstate motor carrier must issue a receipt or bill of lading for property it receives.[2]
A motor carrier bill of lading has to show the consignor and consignee, origin and destination, the number of packages, a description of the freight, and the weight, volume or measurement where that affects the rate.[3] Those same fields are the checklist at delivery: exceptions for damage or shortage are written against them, and notations such as shipper load and count change who answers for the load.
In ocean shipping, a consolidated container can have a master bill issued by the ocean carrier and house bills issued by an NVOCC for each shipment inside it; the difference is explained in master vs. house bill of lading.
Why it matters
Nearly every freight dispute comes back to the bill of lading: what it says was tendered, how it was loaded and counted, and what exceptions were written on the delivery receipt when it arrived.
Example
A driver picks up 22 pallets. The bill of lading lists the shipper and consignee, 22 pallets of housewares and 18,400 lb. At delivery the receiver counts 22, finds one crushed, and writes that exception next to the pallet count before signing.
Related
Related terms
- Shipper Load and CountShipper load and count (SLC or SL&C) is a bill of lading notation meaning the shipper loaded and counted the...Glossary
- Overages, Shortages and DamagesOverages, shortages and damages (OS&D) is the receiving record of freight that arrived over the expected...Glossary
- Delivery OrderA delivery order (D.O.) is a document issued by the consignee or its customs broker that authorizes release...Glossary
- Commercial InvoiceA commercial invoice is the seller's invoice for imported goods; U.S. Customs uses it to identify, value and...Glossary
- Packing ListA packing list is a document that details what is in each package of a shipment: the contents, quantities...Glossary
- Carmack AmendmentThe Carmack Amendment (49 U.S.C. 14706) is the federal law that makes interstate motor carriers liable for...Glossary
- ConsigneeThe consignee is the party a shipment is sent to, usually the buyer; the receiver is the facility where it is...Glossary
- ShipperThe shipper is the party that tenders goods for transportation, usually the seller; in trucking the shipper...Glossary
Related questions
- Master vs. House Bill of Lading: What Is the Difference?When an NVOCC or forwarder consolidates several shipments, the ocean carrier issues one master bill of lading...Answer
- What Documents Are Needed to Import a Container into the U.S.?For a typical ocean import: an Importer Security Filing made before the container is loaded abroad, the bill...Answer
- Why Was My LTL Shipment Reclassified?Because the carrier found that the class, weight or description on the bill of lading did not match the...Answer
- What Should I Do If a Container Seal Is Broken or Does Not Match?Stop before opening the doors. Photograph the seal and the doors, compare the seal number with the bill of...Answer
Related freight problems
Sources
- Federal Highway Administration, Office of Freight Management and Operations, “Freight Glossary,” Government glossary. Accessed September 30, 2026.
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “49 U.S. Code § 14706, Liability of carriers under receipts and bills of lading,” Federal statute. Accessed September 2026.
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “49 CFR § 373.101, Motor carrier bills of lading,” Federal regulation. Accessed September 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.