Bill of lading (BOL)
The shipping document that travels with the freight, listing what is on the trailer and acting as the receipt when it is delivered.
The bill of lading, almost always just called the BOL, is the document that rides with the freight. It lists the shipper, the receiver, and exactly what is on the trailer: the pieces, the weight, and the commodity. The driver gets it at pickup and hands it over at delivery.
It does three jobs at once. It is the receipt that the freight was picked up, it is the contract of carriage that says how the load is being moved, and once it is signed at delivery it is the proof the load arrived. A clean BOL, signed with no damage noted, is what protects you if a claim comes up later.
Hang onto it. A signed BOL is usually required before a broker will pay, and it is the first thing a factoring company asks for. Snap a clear photo the moment it is signed so it is not riding around in the door pocket when you need to invoice.
Related: proof of delivery, rate confirmation, factoring.