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Bill of lading generator
A bill of lading (BOL) is the receipt and shipping contract the carrier signs when it picks up your freight. Fill in the shipper, consignee, carrier and what is shipping, and this generator lays it out as a straight, non-negotiable BOL or a VICS-style BOL with customer order lines. Download the PDF or print it. Nothing is uploaded: the form, the drafts and the PDF all stay in your browser.
Updated October 12, 2026
Fields follow what NMFC Item 250100 requires on a bill of lading and the common carrier short form. The carrier's own terms and the NMFC Uniform Bill of Lading terms govern the shipment; they are not reprinted here. Check special requirements with your carrier.
What a bill of lading has to show
NMFC Item 250100 sets the rules for bills of lading under the National Motor Freight Classification, and since December 6, 2025 it explicitly covers printed, digital and electronic BOLs. A BOL that LTL carriers accept carries:
The shipper’s and the consignee’s names and full addresses.
Who pays the freight: prepaid, collect or a third party, with the bill-to address for third party.
The carrier’s name and SCAC, plus the PRO number once the carrier assigns one.
For each line: the number of handling units and packages, the kind of packaging, the weight and a description that matches the tariff. NMFC Item 250100 asks for the article, package, special marks, exceptions, the NMFC item number, the sub and the class.
Anything that needs extra care in handling or stowing, marked as such. The NMFC titles that column “Requires additional care or attention”.
For hazardous materials: an X in the HM column, the UN or NA number, proper shipping name, hazard class and packing group (49 CFR 172.201 and 172.202), and a 24-hour emergency response phone number (49 CFR 172.604).
Signatures: the shipper’s certification and the carrier’s acknowledgment at pickup.
Not sure of the class? The freight class calculator works it out from the dimensions and weight, and the generator links each line to it.
Straight BOL or VICS BOL?
| Straight BOL (short form) | VICS-style BOL | |
|---|---|---|
| Use it for | Most LTL and truckload shipments | Shipments where the receiver asks for the VICS layout, often retail and consumer goods |
| Order detail | PO, customer order and shipper reference numbers | A customer order table: order number, packages, weight, pallet or slip, extra shipper info |
| IDs | BOL and PRO numbers | Adds SID (shipper), CID (consignee) and location numbers, FOB boxes |
| Several shipments | One BOL per shipment | A master BOL box for a load with underlying BOLs attached |
A straight bill of lading is non-negotiable: the freight goes to the consignee named on it. That is what nearly every domestic shipment uses. An order bill of lading, which can be signed over to someone else, is a different document and this tool does not make one.
How to fill in a bill of lading
Enter the BOL number your system uses and the ship date. The BOL and PRO numbers print with Code 128 barcodes and the plain number underneath.
Fill in ship from and ship to. Add a contact and phone, because drivers call when a dock is closed.
Choose who pays: prepaid, collect or third party.
Enter the carrier, its SCAC (2 to 4 letters) and the PRO number if you have it.
Add a line per commodity: units, packages, weight, description, NMFC item and class. Tick HM for hazardous materials.
Tick the services the carrier needs to know about, such as a liftgate or a delivery appointment, and add any dock notes.
Fill in COD or a declared value only when they apply. Then check the list under “Before you print”, download the PDF or print, and sign at pickup.
Terms on the form
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| PRO number | The carrier’s tracking number for the shipment. Many carriers put a PRO sticker on the BOL at pickup. |
| SCAC | Standard Carrier Alpha Code: the 2 to 4 letter code that identifies the carrier. |
| Prepaid, collect, third party | Who pays the freight bill: the shipper, the consignee, or someone else such as a 3PL. |
| NMFC item and class | The commodity’s entry in the National Motor Freight Classification and its class, 50 to 500, which drives the LTL rate. |
| COD | Collect on delivery: the carrier collects the stated amount from the consignee before it hands over the freight. |
| Declared value | A value the shipper states when the rate depends on value. It can cap what the carrier pays on a claim (49 U.S.C. 14706). |
| Section 7 signature | The shipper’s no-recourse signature: the carrier must not deliver without collecting the freight charges. |
| Trailer loaded, freight counted | Who loaded the trailer and who counted the pieces. Shipper load and count matters if a claim comes later. |
Will my carrier accept this BOL?
A bill of lading is accepted when it carries the information the carrier’s tariff asks for and is signed at pickup, and NMFC rules let it be printed or digital. Some carriers want their own form or their electronic BOL, especially on contract freight, so ask before the pickup. The carrier’s tariff and the NMFC Uniform Bill of Lading terms govern the shipment; this page does not reprint them.
Common questions
Can I print a blank bill of lading?
Yes. Use “Download blank BOL (PDF)” or “Blank VICS BOL (PDF)” at the top of the form. You get a clean straight or VICS-style BOL with no date and no boxes ticked, to print and fill in by hand.
Can I reuse a BOL for a repeat shipment?
Save it as a draft, then use “Copy as new”. The copy keeps the parties, carrier and lines, takes today’s date, and clears the BOL number, PRO, trailer and seal.
Where are my drafts stored?
In this browser only. Nothing reaches Morsa’s servers or anyone else’s. Clearing your browser data deletes them, so download the PDF for your records.
Does it handle hazmat?
It marks the HM column, reminds you what the description needs and prints the emergency response phone number. You are still responsible for the shipping description, packaging, marking and placards under 49 CFR.
WHERE MORSA FITS
The paperwork is ready. Is the order?
Shipments slip when supplier purchase orders slip. Morsa chases open POs with your suppliers, catches the late ones before they hold up a load, and keeps the delivery dates you give customers honest. It works in email, Teams, WhatsApp or whatever you already run on.
