A bill of lading template you can fill in online
This free bill of lading template turns the details of a shipment into a clean, printable B/L: shipper, consignee, carrier, the reference numbers a dock needs (PRO, trailer and seal numbers), and a goods table with handling units, packages, weights, NMFC numbers and freight class. Switch to ocean mode for a port-to-port layout with vessel, ports, notify party, container and seal numbers, marks and volume.
It is for shippers preparing their own paperwork — an LTL or truckload short form, or a draft ocean bill to send to a forwarder. The layout is generic and written for this tool, not a copy of any carrier’s form. A bill of lading is a legal document, so use your carrier’s terms where it requires them and check your local legal requirements. Everything stays in your browser.
How to use the Bill of Lading Template
- Choose Truck or Ocean, and Straight or To order.
- Enter the B/L number, date, weight unit and whether freight is prepaid, collect or billed to a third party.
- Fill in the shipper (logo and signature optional) and the consignee; add a notify party or a third-party bill-to if needed.
- Add the carrier and routing: SCAC, PRO, trailer and seal numbers, or vessel, ports and number of originals.
- Add a goods line for each commodity with quantities, description and weight; tick HM for hazardous materials.
- Edit the instructions and terms, then press Download PDF.
Bill of Lading Template features
Truck short form
Handling units and package counts, HM column, NMFC number and freight class, grand totals, trailer, seal and PRO numbers.
Ocean layout
Vessel and voyage, place of receipt, ports of loading and discharge, place of delivery, marks, container and seal numbers, volume in m³.
Straight or to order
A straight B/L names the consignee; an order B/L prints “To the order of …” and keeps the consignee as the delivery contact.
Totals as you type
Handling units, packages, weight and volume add up live in the summary and on the document.
Drafts and backup
Save bills in this browser, number the next one automatically and export them as JSON.
What a bill of lading must show
For interstate truck shipments in the US, 49 CFR 373.101 requires the motor carrier’s receipt or bill of lading to contain: the names of the consignor and consignee, the origin and destination points, the number of packages, a description of the freight, and its weight, volume or measurement where that affects the rate. Everything else on a short-form BOL — PRO and seal numbers, NMFC item and class, COD and declared value — is there so the carrier can rate, handle and deliver the shipment correctly. Source: 49 CFR 373.101 (eCFR / Cornell LII), checked 19 October 2026.
If any line is a hazardous material, the shipping paper must also carry the proper shipping description, emergency response information and the shipper’s certification required by 49 CFR Part 172. This template marks the HM column and reminds you, but it does not generate a compliant hazmat shipping paper.
Straight, order and the other common types
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Straight bill of lading | Consigned to a named consignee; not negotiable. The usual domestic truck BOL. |
| Order bill of lading | Made out “to the order of” the shipper or a bank and transferred by endorsement; used when goods are sold or financed while in transit. |
| Short form | The front-page details only, with the carrier’s full terms incorporated by reference. |
| Sea waybill | A non-negotiable receipt with no originals to surrender; choose “None” under originals. |
Tips before the truck arrives
- Check the freight class with the freight class calculator; a wrong class is the most common cause of a re-bill.
- Count handling units the way the driver will: pallets, skids or crates, not the cartons on them. The pallet calculator helps.
- For containers, plan the stow with the container loading calculator and record every seal number.
- Keep a signed copy: the carrier’s signature on pickup is your evidence of what was handed over.
Bill of Lading Template FAQ
What is a bill of lading?
A bill of lading is the document a carrier issues for goods it has received for transport. It works as a receipt, records the contract of carriage, and — for an order bill — represents the goods themselves.
What is a straight bill of lading?
A straight bill names the consignee and cannot be transferred by endorsement. It is the standard form for domestic truck shipments.
Is there a bill of lading short form PDF I can fill in?
Yes — this template. Fill in the fields and press Download PDF; it produces a one-page US Letter or A4 bill with the text selectable.
Can I use a bill of lading template in Excel instead?
You can, but this tool totals units and weights, switches between truck and ocean layouts, saves drafts and prints a tidy PDF without spreadsheet formatting.
Who fills out the bill of lading?
Usually the shipper prepares it and the carrier signs it on pickup. Many carriers and forwarders issue their own, in which case use theirs and keep this as your draft.
Is this an official or carrier-approved form?
No. It is a generic template for your own shipments with no carrier branding. Check your carrier’s terms and your local legal requirements.