Bill of Lading Example: Every Field Explained

A bill of lading sample is easiest to understand as a map of the shipment handoff. The form identifies the parties and locations, describes the packaged freight, records service and payment instructions, and provides spaces for the acknowledgments that apply to the move. The exact layout and field names vary by carrier, so use the form accepted for the shipment rather than copying a generic template without checking it.

For covered interstate or foreign motor-carrier transportation, 49 CFR 373.101 lists a core set of information for the carrier’s receipt or bill of lading: the consignor and consignee names, origin and destination points, number of packages, freight description, and weight, volume, or measurement when that information applies to rating. An LTL form usually contains additional operational fields needed to identify, classify, rate, handle, and deliver the freight.

This guide walks through those fields in the order they commonly appear. For the document’s broader role in a shipment, see What Is a Bill of Lading?.

A blank BOL example, organized by section

Think of a standard domestic LTL form as six information zones. The labels may move, but the questions remain recognizable.

Form section	What it establishes
Document controls	Which booking, carrier, date, and version the form belongs to
Shipping parties	Who tenders, receives, and pays for the freight
Locations	Where the physical pickup and delivery occur
Freight description	What is being tendered, how it is packaged, and how much it weighs
Services and charge terms	Which nonstandard services and payment arrangement were requested
Certifications and acceptance	What the signer is attesting to and when the carrier accepted the freight

Treat the sections as connected. A correct commodity description does not cure a wrong destination, and a liftgate note does not cure a missing residential or limited-access request. The form should agree with the booking and with the freight physically waiting for pickup.

1. Document and shipment-control fields

Bill of lading number. This is the shipper’s or document system’s identifier for the BOL. Use a unique reference and keep it consistent across the booking, BOL, internal shipment file, and any revised copy.

Carrier name and carrier code. Identify the carrier that is actually scheduled to receive the freight. If the form requests a Standard Carrier Alpha Code, use the code for that carrier rather than guessing from a trade name.

PRO or carrier tracking number. A PRO number is normally a carrier-assigned shipment identifier. It is not necessarily the same as the BOL number, purchase-order number, or quote reference. Leave carrier-only fields for the carrier or booking workflow when that is how the selected provider handles them.

Pickup date. Enter the actual tender or pickup date in the format the carrier accepts. If a document is prepared in advance and the pickup changes, verify that the final accepted copy carries the correct date.

Quote, account, purchase-order, or customer references. These fields connect transportation paperwork to commercial records. They can help with matching, but they do not replace the required shipment description. Label references clearly so a receiver’s purchase-order number is not mistaken for the carrier’s tracking number.

2. Shipper, consignee, and billing fields

Shipper or consignor. Enter the party tendering the freight, along with the physical pickup address and useful contact details. Confirm the location rather than automatically using a headquarters, mailing, or billing address.

Consignee. Enter the party designated to receive the freight and the physical delivery address. Include the correct business name, street address, suite or unit, city, state, ZIP code, and contact information requested by the carrier.

Origin and destination. These are the actual points from which and to which the freight moves. They may match the shipper and consignee addresses, but not always. A supplier, warehouse, job site, or fulfillment partner can create a different physical location from the named commercial party.

Bill-to or third-party payer. Complete this only when the booked payment arrangement calls for it. The payer field does not change the physical shipper, consignee, origin, or destination. Confirm the account information and carrier instructions that support third-party billing.

Contact information. Use contacts who can resolve pickup or delivery questions during the relevant operating window. A general corporate number may be less useful than the shipping or receiving contact, but provide only the information the form and carrier workflow require.

3. Handling units, packages, and commodity lines

This is the section most likely to need more than one row. Give each commodity enough detail to stand on its own, especially when a pallet contains different articles or classes.

Handling-unit count. A handling unit is the unit the carrier physically moves, such as a pallet, skid, crate, or drum. Record the count actually tendered.

Package or piece count. This can describe the individual packages associated with a handling unit, such as cartons on a pallet. It is not automatically the same as the number of pallets. NMFTA guidance specifically warns shippers to distinguish pieces from handling units.

Packaging type. State how the freight is packaged: pallet, crate, carton, drum, bundle, or another accurate type accepted by the carrier. Describe the shipment after it has been prepared for transport, not the unpackaged product.

Commodity description. Use a specific description of the actual goods. Vague entries such as “parts,” “equipment,” or “general merchandise” may not identify the commodity well enough for classification or handling. Where the NMFC applies, NMFTA advises matching the commodity description to the relevant item and subprovision.

NMFC item number and subprovision. Enter the current classification reference when it applies and is known. Similar products can fall under different provisions because of material, construction, packaging, density, or another condition. Do not borrow an item number from an old shipment without confirming it still describes the present freight.

Freight class. Enter the class associated with the applicable classification or rating basis. Class and NMFC item are related fields, not interchangeable labels. If classification is uncertain, resolve it before tender rather than treating a density estimate as a guaranteed answer.

Actual weight. Record the packaged shipment weight, including the pallet, crate, or other packaging where the applicable rules and carrier form call for it. Do not substitute product-only weight or an unverified estimate.

Dimensions and volume. Give the packaged outside length, width, and height for each handling unit when requested. Measure the farthest points, including packaging, overhang, and projections. Some forms also calculate cubic volume, but that calculation does not replace accurate dimensions.

Special handling indicator. Use the form’s designated field for freight requiring additional care, stack restrictions, or other carrier-recognized handling. Plain-language notes should support, not contradict, the selected service and classification fields.

Read each commodity row from left to right

Instead of inventing a sample product or weight, apply the same four checks to every real line on the form:

1. Count: Do the handling units and packages match what is on the dock?
2. Identity: Does the description say what the freight actually is, and does any NMFC reference fit that description?
3. Size and mass: Are the packaged dimensions and actual weight current?
4. Handling: Are the packaging type, class, and special-care fields consistent with the physical freight?

If a mixed pallet contains commodities that need separate descriptions or classification lines, list them as required by the governing classification and carrier rules. Do not collapse them into a vague description merely to fit one row.

4. Freight-charge terms and requested services

Prepaid, collect, or third party. This section identifies the selected freight-charge arrangement. It does not necessarily describe when cash changes hands, and it does not override the carrier’s tariff, credit terms, or separate transportation agreement. Use the arrangement confirmed in the booking.

COD fields. Cash-on-delivery or collect-on-delivery instructions are separate from ordinary collect freight charges. If the service is available and requested, follow the carrier’s specific form and remittance instructions; otherwise, do not use this section as a general payment note.

Accessorial or additional-service fields. Record the services actually needed at each end of the move. Liftgate at pickup is distinct from liftgate at delivery. Residential, limited-access, inside service, notification, and appointment requirements can also be separate selections. A note in a comments box may not create a service request unless it follows the carrier’s booking process.

Special instructions. Use this space for concise, shipment-specific directions the carrier has agreed to accept. Do not use it to promise a delivery time, handling method, liability term, or service that was not part of the booked option.

Declared or released value. Complete value fields only when they apply under the classification, tariff, carrier rules, or transportation agreement. A declared or released value is not automatically cargo insurance, and leaving a field blank or entering a retail value does not create universal coverage. Review the governing terms for the shipment.

5. Signatures, certifications, and carrier acceptance

Shipper signature or authentication. Read the language beside the signature. Depending on the form and shipment, the signer may be certifying the accuracy of the description, packaging, classification, charge instructions, or regulatory statements. Electronic authentication can be used when accepted by the parties and applicable rules.

Carrier pickup signature and date. This records the carrier’s acceptance of the tendered freight on the form being used. Note visible count or condition exceptions in the proper area before the handoff is complete, and keep the carrier-accepted copy.

Section 7 or nonrecourse language. Some uniform forms contain a nonrecourse provision tied to delivery without collecting charges. Do not check or sign it casually. Its effect depends on the form and governing terms, so obtain legal or contract guidance when the allocation of freight-charge liability matters.

Delivery signature. A destination delivery receipt or proof of delivery is often a separate record, even if a multipurpose form includes delivery fields. The consignee should follow the carrier’s process for noting visible shortages or damage at delivery. A signature or notation is evidence from that handoff; it does not by itself decide every claim.

6. Hazardous-material fields are not optional add-ons

When regulated hazardous material is offered for transportation, a generic BOL field walkthrough is not enough. A BOL can function as the shipping paper only if it meets the applicable requirements in 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart C.

Those rules address how hazardous entries are identified and described, including the sequence of the identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, and packing group when applicable. They also cover quantity and package information, additional descriptions, emergency-response telephone information, retention, and shipper certification, subject to detailed exceptions and mode-specific provisions.

Do not guess from a product nickname, label, or previous shipment. The person offering the material must use the current Hazardous Materials Table and the requirements that apply to the material, packaging, quantity, and mode. Qualified hazmat help is appropriate when classification or documentation is uncertain.

Final review before the driver arrives

Use this short comparison instead of reviewing the BOL in isolation:

• Booking: Does the carrier, lane, date, commodity, class, weight, dimensions, and requested service match the confirmed shipment?
• Physical freight: Do the handling units, packages, packaging, markings, measurements, and visible condition match the document?
• BOL: Are the parties, locations, commodity rows, charge terms, references, and certifications accurate on the version presented for pickup?

If something changed, correct the source information and obtain revised booking or rating instructions when needed. Preserve the earlier accepted version and the correction history if an error is found after pickup; do not silently replace the record.

Shipocity is backed by a team with more than 40 years of combined logistics experience. Through established industry relationships, the platform helps businesses compare competitive freight rates for their specific shipment.

Gather the real shipment details first, then book a shipment and let Shipocity prepare the paperwork.

Sources

• eCFR - 49 CFR 373.101, Motor-carrier receipt or bill of lading
• eCFR - Appendix A to 49 CFR Part 1035, Uniform Straight Bill of Lading
• eCFR - 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart C, Shipping Papers
• NMFTA - Everything You Need to Know about a Bill of Lading
• NMFTA - 10 Pointers to Avoid Most Common Bill of Lading Errors