Bill of lading (BOL)

The shipping paper that travels with the freight and, once the receiver signs it, proves the load was delivered.

Also called: Bills, Proof of delivery, POD.

The bill of lading lists what is being shipped, from whom, to whom. The driver gets it at the pickup and has the receiver sign it at the drop. Signed, it is the proof of delivery.

For a leased owner-operator the signed BOL is the paper that gets the load paid: turned in to the carrier, it triggers the settlement. Lose it and the settlement waits.

A photo of the signed bills from the cab, sent to the office the same day, is the habit that keeps settlements on time.

Read next

• Settlement — The carrier’s statement of what it owes the owner-operator for a load, and the check that pays it.
• Load number — The carrier’s identifier for one load — the number that ties the dispatch, the paperwork, the settlement and the driver’s pay together.
• Consignee — The party the freight is delivered to; the one who signs the bill of lading.

Every term, A to Z

Made with the free bill of lading (bol) at loadtally.app/tools/glossary/bill-of-lading — LoadTally, loads, settlements and driver pay for owner-operators.