A Bill of Lading (BOL) is a legal document between you and your shipping customer. It details the type, quantity, origin and destination of the goods you'll be transporting. You'll want to have this signed by an authorized person from your business entity, as well as the shipping customer or consignee at the pickup and delivery locations.

The BOL is useful in cases of damages, and is typically requested when an insurance claim is being filed. Both parties should note any shipment damages or issues on the BOL, prior to signing the document, at both pickup and delivery.

For your convenience, uShip generates an electronic and printable BOL for most shipments. We utilize the booking information provided by both parties to prefill sections of the document, and we provide instructions for completing the remaining fields. The uShip BOL specifically notes when a customer has paid for a shipment in full upon booking through uShip.

If the shipping customer makes changes to a shipment after booking, the changes should be documented within the BOL, and signed off on by both parties.

Whether you choose to use the uShip BOL, or your own company BOL, don't underestimate the importance of documenting your work. It's always best to be prepared, both for yourself and for your business.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to continue perusing our Help Center or contact our Member Support team by clicking here.