Preparing a bill of lading (BOL)
Check the BOL, physical freight and appointment details before pickup.
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Check freight against the BOL
Verify addresses, contacts, commodity, count, packed dimensions, weight and requested services against the actual load. Ask for clarification rather than guessing freight class.
Prepare the warehouse
Confirm readiness, gate, appointment code, pickup reference and equipment. Share the final document and identify superseded versions.
Keep pickup handoff records
Photograph the packaging, labels, and freight condition before pickup. Keep pickup handoff records. A BOL is not an insurance certificate or final proof of delivery.
BOL, labels and POD serve different purposes
The bill of lading (BOL) records shipment and pickup handoff information. Freight labels identify individual handling units. Proof of delivery (POD) records the delivery acknowledgment. These documents serve different purposes. Match the BOL's freight class, piece counts, and requested services to the confirmed shipment. Do not substitute another platform's sample document.
Before the driver arrives, confirm final paperwork, pickup availability, warehouse access and the pickup reference. Resolve readiness, labeling or address discrepancies promptly to reduce failed pickup attempts. A completed pickup does not turn an estimated delivery date into a guarantee.