Bill of Lading (BOL) Master Guide | Templates, Rules & How to Fill Out
How to Print a Bill of Lading or Shipping Label quickly with Freightzy
A Bill of Lading (BOL) is one of the most important documents in freight shipping, regardless of whether you’re moving a single pallet, a full truckload, or intermodal containers. It serves as the official contract between the shipper and the carrier, outlines what’s being transported, and provides critical details for handling, billing, and delivery. Even with modern digital tools and automated workflows, the BOL remains the backbone of freight documentation.
This guide explains everything you need to know about Bills of Lading across all major freight modes - LTL, Truckload, Intermodal, Expedited, and Final Mile. Whether you're a new shipper or looking to refine your operations, this resource will help you understand the purpose of the BOL, how to fill it out accurately, and how platforms like Freightzy help ensure your documentation is complete and consistent.
Printing a Bill of Lading (BOL) or a shipping label shouldn’t be complicated. With Freightzy, you can generate your BOL in just a few clicks.
What Is a Bill of Lading (BOL)?
If you’ve shipped anything bigger than a small package, you’ve used a Bill of Lading - whether you realized it or not. The BOL is the single document every carrier, warehouse, driver, broker, and customs officer relies on to understand what you’re shipping, who owns it, where it’s going, and what should happen along the way.
Think of the BOL as the “passport” for your freight.
Without it, nothing moves.
With the right one, everything moves smoothly.
This is exactly why Freightzy puts so much focus on helping you create accurate, compliant BOLs quickly and why our customers see fewer billing issues and a smoother shipping experience overall.
Why the BOL Matters in Everyday Shipping
Freight shipping has become more complex, with dynamic routing, multimodal carriers, strict liability rules, and increased visibility requirements. The BOL helps carriers and logistics teams keep these moving parts aligned. A complete and accurate BOL:
- reduces the risk of reclass or reweigh fees - ensures better handling of fragile or special-care freight - prevents delivery issues caused by missing consignee information - ensures accessorials are applied correctly - avoids customs delays for cross-border moves - supports claims if freight is lost or damaged
Even small errors, like unclear packaging descriptions or missing liftgate instructions can trigger delays or incorrect charges. Because LTL, Truckload, and Intermodal carriers each rely on the BOL differently, the details matter. Shippers who use digital platforms like Freightzy benefit from automated BOL creation that reduces errors and improves consistency. When your documentation is accurate, your freight moves faster, your billing is cleaner, and your risk is lower.
Core Sections of a Bill of Lading
While BOL formats vary between carriers and modes, the essential sections remain similar. Understanding them helps you complete BOLs more accurately, especially when you move between different service types.
The shipper and consignee information section lists the full name, address, and contact details of both parties. This ensures the carrier can schedule efficient pickup and delivery. The commodity description section clarifies what is being shipped, how it is packaged, and how many handling units are involved. Providing specific descriptions - such as “machined steel brackets, boxed and palletized” - helps reduce inspections.
Another critical section includes the weight, dimensions, and freight class (for LTL shipments). These details affect how the freight is billed and handled. Inconsistent or missing information often leads to surprise charges later.
Handling instructions and accessorial needs should also be clear. Carriers need to know if a shipment is fragile, non-stackable, hazardous, or requires special services like liftgate delivery. When accessorials aren’t listed, the carrier will still apply them - but typically at a higher cost.
Finally, the signature fields formalize the chain of custody. Once signed at pickup, the BOL confirms that the freight was received in stated condition. The consignee’s signature at delivery completes the transaction and affects damage and loss claims.
BOLs by Freight Mode
LTL (Less-Than-Truckload)
In LTL shipping, the BOL carries significant weight. Because multiple shipments from different companies share the same trailer, carriers depend on precise details to bill correctly and ensure proper handling. Weight, dimensions, freight class, commodity descriptions, and accessorials must all be accurate. LTL carriers also require clear labeling that matches the BOL.
Freightzy users benefit from automated BOL generation that populates these details directly from the shipment entry. This ensures consistency and reduces billing errors that commonly occur in LTL shipping.
Truckload (FTL)
Truckload freight BOLs are simpler because the entire trailer belongs to one shipper. Freight class and density don’t matter in the same way. However, accuracy still matters for routing, dock scheduling, and liability. A truckload BOL typically includes the driver’s seal number, pickup reference, and detailed commodity descriptions.
Because truckload freight avoids the multiple touchpoints of LTL terminals, the BOL functions more like a contract and delivery receipt. Freightzy ensures that important details such as pickup times, dock instructions, and contact details are clearly included for the carrier.
Intermodal
Intermodal shipments move through multiple stages - typically truck, rail, and then truck again. As a result, the BOL must remain consistent and error-free throughout the journey. Carriers rely heavily on packaging descriptions, weight accuracy, and load integrity notes.
Some intermodal carriers require additional details such as container numbers or seal numbers. Freightzy simplifies this process by helping shippers keep documentation consistent across modes and service legs.
Expedited
Expedited freight focuses on speed and time sensitivity. The BOL needs to clearly show priority status, required delivery timeframe, and any service-level expectations. Because these shipments often bypass typical routing or handling processes, accurate commodity descriptions are essential.
Freightzy ensures that time-critical notes appear clearly on the BOL so carriers can treat the shipment accordingly.
Final Mile
Final Mile BOLs often include highly specific instructions such as limited access delivery, inside delivery, white glove service, or equipment needs. Missing or unclear details can cause delivery failures.
Freightzy ensures that final mile accessorials and delivery instructions are easy to enter and clearly visible on the BOL, improving the final delivery experience.
Digital vs Paper BOLs
Most freight carriers now accept or prefer digital BOLs. Digital versions reduce the risk of errors, improve consistency across systems, and reduce the chance of lost paperwork. They can be regenerated quickly and shared electronically. Paper BOLs are still used in warehouses, cross-docking facilities, and by drivers who require a physical copy at pickup. Many shippers prefer to attach a printed BOL directly to their pallets. Freightzy allows you to print clean, standardized versions so carriers can process them easily.
The most important thing is consistency: the digital version and printed version must match. Freightzy maintains one authoritative copy within your shipment so that your team and the carrier always reference the correct version.
How Freightzy Helps Ensure Accurate BOLs
Freightzy’s platform is designed to reduce the most common BOL issues, especially for LTL shippers. Instead of manually filling out forms, Freightzy auto-populates your BOL with data from your shipment entries, saved products, and prior shipping information. The platform helps catch missing fields, identifies incomplete descriptions, and warns you about inconsistencies before you finalize the BOL. Freightzy also ensures that required accessorials - like liftgate, residential delivery, or appointment services - are visible on the BOL so that carriers can route and charge properly.
Freightzy automatically inserts volume LTL quote numbers when required, ensuring that your negotiated rate remains valid. Printing is simple because all labels are formatted for Avery 5168, making them easy to read and scan at terminals. For multi-mode shipping, Freightzy maintains all documentation within the same platform, giving shippers a consistent place to store, print, and track BOLs for any freight type.
How to Fill Out Freightzy BOL: Step by Step
1.Navigate to the "Document" Section: Hover over the "Document" tab on your dashboard. A dropdown menu will appear with multiple document options.
2. Select Your Document Type Choose between "Bill of Lading" or "Label" depending on your shipping needs.
3. Download and Print: After selecting the document, click to download it. Print a hard copy to give to your driver.
4. Email Option: Alternatively, email the BOL or label directly to the shipper for added convenience.
Key Features of Freightzy’s Shipping Documents
Freightzy’s system is designed to make the process simple, accurate, and efficient:
Preformatted Labels: Labels are automatically formatted to the standard Avery 5168 size for easy printing with no resizing needed.
Accurate Bills of Lading: BOLs automatically include shipping terminology, accessorial charges, quote numbers, and billing information to reduce manual errors.
Best Practices: Always attach printed labels securely to your cargo and ensure your driver signs the BOL to prevent misplaced shipments.
Custom Branding Options: Add your company logo to your BOLs by contacting your Freightzy sales representative. This small detail enhances your professional image.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many shippers experience delayed freight or unexpected charges because of preventable BOL issues. Some of the most frequent mistakes include incomplete addresses, incorrect weights, vague commodity descriptions, and missing accessorials. These issues often lead to reclassifications, reweighs, additional fees, or delivery delays.
Another common issue is inconsistency between documents. If the BOL doesn’t match the commercial invoice or customs paperwork, cross-border shipments may be held or returned. Freightzy helps reduce this risk by aligning all shipment data in one place before a BOL is created.
To avoid these problems, always review your BOL before printing. If you’re shipping a recurring product, double-check that the stored dimensions and commodity details are still accurate. A few seconds of review can prevent unexpected costs later.
Why Use Freightzy for Your Bill of Lading and Shipping Labels
Freightzy’s platform is more than convenient - it’s a smarter way to manage shipping documents and streamline logistics management. Whether you need to generate shipping documents or create professional shipping labels, our system delivers accuracy and efficiency every time.
Ease of Use: The system is intuitive and user-friendly, making creating the documents you need simple without frustration.
Accuracy: Automated features ensure every document is error-free, saving you time and avoiding costly mistakes.
Custom Branding: Add a professional touch to your BOLs and labels by including your company's logo a simple way to strengthen your brand
Streamlined Logistics Management: Freightzy’s tools streamline your shipping process, helping you manage tasks efficiently.
By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to print professional shipping documents and manage your logistics more effectively. Freightzy’s platform is built for accuracy, efficiency, and ease of use, helping you stay focused on growing your business.
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