A bill of lading (BOL) is the document a carrier issues to acknowledge it has received your freight. It identifies the shipper and consignee, describes the goods, sets the freight terms, and doubles as both the receipt for the shipment and the contract of carriage. Nearly every LTL and truckload pickup needs one.
To use this free generator, fill in the ship-from and ship-to addresses, add your carrier and PRO number, then list each commodity with its quantity, weight, NMFC number and freight class. The preview on the right updates as you type. When it looks right, hit Download BOL PDF and choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog. Everything happens in your browser — no shipment data is ever sent to a server.
This produces a standard non-negotiable straight bill of lading, suitable for most domestic LTL and truckload shipments. If your carrier requires their own branded VICS layout or you're issuing dozens a week, that's exactly where the paid product earns its keep.
Is this generator really free?
Yes — you can create and download several complete BOL PDFs at no cost, right in your browser. Heavy shippers move to DockReady to issue them automatically.
Straight vs. order bill of lading?
A straight BOL is non-negotiable and consigned to a specific receiver. An order BOL is negotiable and transferable by endorsement. This tool makes a straight BOL.
What is freight class / NMFC?
The NMFC assigns LTL commodities a class from 50–500 based on density, handling, stowability and liability. Class and NMFC number drive the rate and belong on the BOL.
Is a PDF bill of lading valid?
Yes. A printed or PDF BOL signed by shipper and carrier at pickup is a valid contract of carriage. Keep a copy for your records and give the driver theirs.