eInvoice

Bill of Lading Generator

Free Bill of Lading Generator

Create a professional VICS-style Bill of Lading and download it as a PDF. Fill in ship from, ship to, carrier, and cargo details. The live preview updates as you type.

Document

Ship From

Ship To

Bill To

Optional. Use when freight charges are billed to a third party.

Carrier

Freight Terms

Freight Charge Terms

Customer Order Information

Order 1

Pallet / Slip

Order 2

Pallet / Slip

Order 3

Pallet / Slip

Cargo / Commodity Information

Cargo 1

Cargo 2

Cargo 3

Cargo 4

Declared Value / COD

COD Fee Terms

Loading / Freight Count

Trailer Loaded

Freight Counted

Signatures

What Is a Bill of Lading?

A bill of lading is the document that travels with a freight shipment. It names who is shipping the goods, who should receive them, which carrier is moving them, and what is on the trailer or in the handling units.

Warehouses, retailers, and carriers use it as a receipt and as a record of the move. It is not an invoice and it is not a packing slip. This page is a free online bill of lading generator: fill in the form, review a live preview, and download a PDF. No account is required.

How to Create a Bill of Lading

  1. Enter the BOL number and date.
  2. Add Ship From and Ship To names and addresses.
  3. Add a Bill To address only when a third party pays the freight.
  4. Enter the carrier name. Add SCAC, PRO, trailer, and seal numbers if you have them.
  5. Choose freight charge terms when they apply.
  6. List customer order numbers and cargo rows, including commodity descriptions.
  7. Add optional declared value, COD, loading status, and signatures.
  8. Review the live preview and generate the PDF.

What Information Goes on a Bill of Lading?

Use this as a practical checklist of what this generator supports, not as a legal minimum or a certified VICS requirement.

Needed to generate — BOL number, date, ship from, ship to, carrier name, and at least one commodity description.

Common optional fields — bill to, SID, location number, CID, FOB, SCAC, PRO, trailer, seal, freight terms, master BOL, special instructions, customer orders, handling units, NMFC, class, declared value, COD, loading status, and signatures.

VICS-style Bill of Lading

This generator uses a VICS-style layout: ship from and ship to blocks, a carrier band, customer order information, and a commodity table with handling units, packages, weight, hazardous-material marks, NMFC, and class.

It is designed to look like a professional retail bill of lading. It is not an official GS1 or VICS form, and it does not claim GS1 or VICS certification or affiliation.

Bill of Lading Example

The sample below is a fictional prepaid shipment from Summit Paper & Packaging in Columbus to a Harbor Retail distribution center in Nashville, moved by Cedarline Freight. It is a preview only. The generator above starts empty except for the BOL number and date.

Bill of Lading vs Packing Slip

A packing slip tells the person opening the box what should be inside. A bill of lading tells the carrier what freight is being moved and under which terms. Keep them separate. If you only need a contents list, use the packing slip generator.

Bill of Lading vs Commercial Invoice

A commercial invoice describes goods and value for billing or customs. A bill of lading is the carrier's shipping document. This BOL has no tax, discount, subtotal, or balance due. For a priced export document, use the commercial invoice generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bill of lading?

A bill of lading (BOL) is a shipping document that names the shipper, consignee, and carrier, and describes the freight being moved. Carriers and warehouses use it as a receipt for the goods and as a record of who is responsible for the shipment.

What is a VICS bill of lading?

VICS is a retail-industry bill of lading layout used for many domestic U.S. shipments. This generator creates a VICS-style BOL with the common party, carrier, order, and commodity sections. It is not an official VICS or GS1 form.

What information goes on a BOL?

A typical BOL includes a BOL number and date, ship from, ship to, carrier name, and a commodity description. Optional or conditional fields include bill to, SCAC, PRO number, trailer and seal numbers, freight terms, customer order numbers, NMFC and class, COD, and signatures.

What is a SCAC code?

A SCAC is a Standard Carrier Alpha Code, a short identifier for the motor carrier. It is optional in this generator. Add it when the carrier or receiver expects it on the BOL.

What is a PRO number?

A PRO number is the carrier's tracking or freight-bill number for a shipment, often used in LTL. It is optional here. Enter it when the carrier has already assigned one.

What is the difference between a BOL and packing slip?

A packing slip lists what is in the box for the receiving team. A bill of lading is the carrier document for the freight move: parties, terms, commodity, and often signatures. Use the packing slip generator for contents and this page for the BOL.

Can I create a BOL without a carrier?

This generator requires a carrier name before you can download the PDF, because a bill of lading names the carrier that is taking the freight. SCAC, PRO, trailer, and seal numbers can stay blank.

Can I download a BOL as PDF?

Yes. Review the live preview, then choose Generate Bill of Lading. You can view, download, or share the PDF without creating an account.

What is the difference between a straight BOL and VICS BOL?

A VICS-style BOL is the denser retail layout with customer-order and commodity tables. A straight BOL is a simpler consignee/carrier form. This V1 page creates a VICS-style BOL only.

Is this an official GS1/VICS form?

No. This tool creates a VICS-style BOL format for operational use. It does not claim official GS1 or VICS certification, approval, or affiliation.

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