What makes a Bol a Bol

acvox24

Expert Expediter
Owner/Operator
I know if your over 10000lbs you legally have to have a bill of lading(not sure about under 10000lbs). But a lot of times the paperwork the shipper gives you seems a little incomplete. Does anyone know what info a Bol has to have in order to be legally recognized as a Bol?
 

billg27

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I drive a cv and would never accept freight without a Bol. If they don't have one, I bring in a blank and make them fill it out. Driving around industrial parks in the middle of the night looking for an address, been stopped before and asked what I was doing! Bol is proof your there for a reason and proves your not there stealing property.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_lading
 

Doggie Daddy

Veteran Expediter
White vans roaming around in the middle of the night always breeds suspiction.

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runrunner

Veteran Expediter
I know if your over 10000lbs you legally have to have a bill of lading(not sure about under 10000lbs). But a lot of times the paperwork the shipper gives you seems a little incomplete. Does anyone know what info a Bol has to have in order to be legally recognized as a Bol?

Maybe your question should be,What is the difference between a Bill of Lading and a Freight Bill?
 

Dynamite 1

Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Shipper, Consignee, Date, Quantity, Weight, Description, Document # ( bol# ).

This information should be good for most.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
The BOL is as much for the shipper & consignee's protection as the driver's, because not every load is reported to the carrier prior to leaving the shipper, and not every 'carrier' can be readily identified in the event of an accident, either. If the freight winds up spilled on the road, various interested parties need to be notified, but what if the driver is unable to communicate? Or just unable to recall the consignee's name? [I am guilty of that a lot, and don't even have the shock of an accident to blame it on, lol]. The shipper needs a signed proof that the freight was given to you by them, for transit.
The BOL should contain all the information needed for the consignee to determine that it is being delivered to the correct place, and for the driver to be paid for the run. Some carriers may impose additional requirements [Load 1 requires the signed BOL to be scanned before leaving the site, or ASAP if that's impossible.]
 

wimpy007

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
US Army
The BOL is a legal document between the Shipper and the Carrier it should reflect the Shippers name, address, city & state, what is being shipped, number of pieces and description of items. Also along with the receiver name and address, last, who is responsible for the freight charges (PPD or COL) and the signature of the shipper. Never leave a shipper until you know all of the above. So you can be PAID.
 

mjmsprt40

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I drive a 2500 series Chevy CV, I ain't agunna roll without that paper. It's all that i have to prove that the freight I have on board is legitimate, that I have knowledge of what I'm carrying and so on. Not to mention that without a signed BOL, I will have worked for free and in this day, nobody needs to do that.

The one time I was pulled over by an Ohio trooper, it was good to be able to tell him what I was carrying when he asked that, and have proof to back it up.
 

zorry

Veteran Expediter
A bol is proof that you had a piece of paper.
If that paper said I pallet of flour and you had I pallet of heroin, that bol won't be a lot of help. Particularly if you generated it.
If it came out of ABC Warehouse, written by them, it may be of some help.

I seal EVERY load. Not foolproof, but helps. All this Big Brother Security stuff may help me prove I didn't stop long enough in the wrong place to compromise the cargo.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
A bol is proof that you had a piece of paper.
If that paper said I pallet of flour and you had I pallet of heroin, that bol won't be a lot of help. Particularly if you generated it.
If it came out of ABC Warehouse, written by them, it may be of some help.

I seal EVERY load. Not foolproof, but helps. All this Big Brother Security stuff may help me prove I didn't stop long enough in the wrong place to compromise the cargo.

and when we pick up at a Fedex terminal THEY do not supply a BOL.....:rolleyes:
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
OVM, what type of paper work do you receive from them ???

Fedex Ground ...the other day...NOTHING.....NOT their freight they claim......I just print and signed for it...because I was picking on BEHALF of a customer....

I did fill out a blank for the receiving end so I could get paid, noting pick up numbers and locations.
 

ntimevan

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Fedex Ground ...the other day...NOTHING.....NOT their freight they claim......I just print and signed for it...because I was picking on BEHALF of a customer....

I did fill out a blank for the receiving end so I could get paid, noting pick up numbers and locations.

I have had that happen ....but magically the packing list comes loose and a copy is made and the packing list is reinserted into its holder and then a blank Bolt bol is made out for receiving office and my copy of packing list plus Bolt bol is transfloed in ....

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OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
I have had that happen ....but magically the packing list comes loose and a copy is made and the packing list is reinserted into its holder and then a blank Bolt bol is made out for receiving office and my copy of packing list plus Bolt bol is transfloed in ....

Sent from my SGH-M919 using EO Forums mobile app

You guys fill out BOLT pick up order forms?....
 

Daffyduck528

Expert Expediter
and when we pick up at a Fedex terminal THEY do not supply a BOL.....:rolleyes:

We have this problem frequently. But we also run for FDCC so when it happens we just make up a BOL and have someone at fedex freight, ground or express sign for it. Never had a problem so far. We also try to get a packing list with the load details off the package, if possible, and make a copy. I wish I could say the people working at the terminals were usually helpful but that hasn't really been our experience.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Fedex Ground ...the other day...NOTHING.....NOT their freight they claim......I just print and signed for it...because I was picking on BEHALF of a customer....

What did you sign? You should at least get a delivery receipt. If you request, any LTL carrier should be able to generate a COSO.
 
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