Free, no signup. Updated October 2026
Free Bill of Lading Generator
Fill in your shipper, consignee, and freight details, then save a clean BOL PDF. No signup, and nothing gets uploaded anywhere.
A bill of lading (BOL) is the document that goes with a freight shipment. It is the shipper’s receipt from the carrier and the contract for the move, and it lists who is shipping, who is receiving, and what is on the truck. Fill in the form below, check the preview, then click Download PDF. Your entries are saved on this device and never uploaded.
Bill of lading form
How to fill out a bill of lading
Work through the form from top to bottom. Each step below matches a section of the form.
- Reference numbers. Add a BOL number, the pickup date, and any PO or reference number. A BOL number is any unique reference you assign. Many shippers use the date plus a sequence, and the Generate button makes one.
- Ship from. Enter the shipper's legal name, the pickup address, and a phone number someone answers.
- Ship to. Enter the consignee's name, delivery address and phone, plus a location or DC number if the buyer uses one.
- Carrier. Enter the carrier name, its SCAC code, and the trailer and seal numbers. The carrier may assign a PRO number at pickup.
- Freight terms and third-party billing. Choose Prepaid if the shipper pays, Collect if the consignee pays, or Third party. Add the bill-to address only if someone other than the shipper or consignee pays the freight.
- Line items. For each line, enter the handling units (pallets, skids, crates) and the pieces on them, the line's total weight, the dimensions of one handling unit, the description, freight class and NMFC number. Tick HM for hazardous materials to add the hazmat description.
- Pickup and delivery. Tick the accessorials you booked, such as liftgate or a delivery appointment, and note who loaded the trailer and who counted the freight. Use special instructions for dock hours or who to call.
- Declared value and COD, if you use them. A declared value prints as “not exceeding” the amount per the basis you enter, such as per shipment.
- Customer order information. For a VICS-style BOL, add the retailer's order number, package count, weight and whether the freight is on pallets or slip sheets.
- Signatures. Download or print the PDF. The shipper and carrier sign at pickup, and the consignee signs at delivery.
Straight vs. VICS bill of lading
A straight bill of lading is non-negotiable, and it’s the most common type for truck freight. A VICS bill of lading is a standard layout used in retail, with separate columns for handling units and packages and a block for the retailer’s order information. Retailer routing guides often require the VICS format, so check yours before you ship to a big-box buyer. Our retailer routing guide explainer covers what those guides ask for.
| Compare | Straight BOL | VICS BOL |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Most truck freight | Shipments to retailers |
| Handling units and packages | Separate columns; piece counts optional | Separate columns, both required |
| Customer order information | Optional | Order number, packages, weight, pallets or slip sheets |
| This tool | Yes | Yes, a VICS-style layout |
The VICS-style layout follows the VICS field set. It isn’t a GS1-certified form, and some retailers or carriers ask for their own.
Freight class and NMFC numbers on a BOL
LTL carriers price freight by class, and the NMFC item number tells them which class applies. The 2025 NMFC changes (Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025) moved more than 2,000 NMFC items to density-based classes and replaced the 11-step density scale with a 13-step one. NMFTA explains the changes. Confirm your item number and class with your carrier or NMFTA’s ClassIT before you ship.
When a line has its handling-unit count, weight and dimensions, the form shows its density in pounds per cubic foot. That’s an estimate to check against the class you enter, not a classification. Our freight class calculator works out a density class and can send the lines back to this form.
Shipping hazardous materials on a BOL
Each hazmat entry on a shipping paper needs:
- the UN or NA identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, and packing group, in that order (49 CFR 172.202);
- the total quantity with a unit of measure;
- a 24-hour emergency response phone number that is monitored whenever the material is in transport (49 CFR 172.604).
Tick HM on a line and the form asks for each of these, then prints them in that order with the shipper’s certification above the signatures. The form checks that the details are filled in. It doesn’t check the classification, packaging or the Hazardous Materials Table, so confirm those yourself or use your carrier’s hazmat BOL.
Print a blank bill of lading
Need a paper form to fill in by hand? Print an empty BOL. Your saved entries stay in the form.
Bill of lading FAQs
Is Simpl's Bill of Lading Generator free?
Yes. Fill in your freight shipment details and download or print the bill of lading without creating an account. Your data stays in your browser. Simpl never uploads or sees what you type.
How do I download my BOL as a PDF?
Click Download PDF. The PDF is made in your browser and saved to your device, with the header repeated and the pages numbered when the freight runs past one page. On a phone, Share PDF sends it to Files, email or a printer app.
What information do I need to fill out a bill of lading?
You'll usually need the shipper, consignee, carrier, pickup date, BOL number, third-party billing details (if applicable), handling units and piece counts, weights, dimensions, descriptions, NMFC numbers, and freight classes.
Can I use this bill of lading for LTL shipments?
Yes. Each line has the fields LTL carriers ask for: handling units and pieces counted separately, weight, dimensions, freight class and NMFC number, plus SCAC and PRO number for the shipment. Check with your carrier in case they want their own BOL or extra details.
Can I create my own bill of lading?
Yes. The shipper or the carrier typically issues the bill of lading, and a third-party logistics provider may prepare it for the shipper. Some carriers prefer their own form, so check before pickup.
Who fills out the bill of lading?
Usually the shipper, or a 3PL on the shipper's behalf. The carrier can also issue it. The shipper and the carrier sign it at pickup, and the consignee signs at delivery.
How do I get a bill of lading number?
You assign it. Use any unique reference, such as the date plus a sequence. The Generate button in the form makes one from today's date, like BOL-20261024-001. The carrier may also assign a PRO number to track the shipment.
Is a bill of lading the same as a packing slip?
No. The bill of lading is the contract with the carrier and the receipt for the freight. A packing slip lists what's in the order for the person receiving it.
Does Word or Excel have a bill of lading template?
You don't need a template file. Fill out the form on this page and download it as a PDF, or print a blank BOL to fill in by hand.
What is a straight bill of lading?
A straight bill of lading is non-negotiable, and it's the most common type for truck freight. This tool produces a straight bill of lading, in a standard layout or a VICS-style layout for retail shipments.
Does Simpl Fulfillment handle freight too?
Yes. Simpl's B2B fulfillment ships everything from individual retail orders to full pallet shipments, including EDI compliance, custom labeling, and freight shipping. If you're cutting BOLs often, we can do the picking, packing, and freight coordination for you.
Done filling out BOLs by hand?
Simpl Fulfillment handles ecommerce orders, B2B wholesale shipments, and Amazon FBA prep from one Austin, TX warehouse. Ecommerce orders start at $7/order with postage and packaging included, and every client gets a dedicated account manager reachable by email. No hidden fees.