Appointment and receiving
State the confirmed requirement and the operational detail the driver needs: “Delivery by appointment; receiving reference 48172” or “Check in at gate before backing to Dock 4.”
Pickup & delivery handoff
How to write useful special instructions on a bill of lading
Use special instructions to make a confirmed operational need visible to the driver, dock, and receiver. Keep each note specific, short, and consistent with the carrier’s booking—not a substitute for arranging a service.
What belongs in the special-instructions field
A useful BOL instruction tells the person handling the load what action, location, or constraint matters for this shipment. Think “appointment required before delivery” or “check in at the guard gate,” not a vague reminder such as “handle carefully.”
The BOL puts a confirmed instruction in front of the people moving the freight. It does not automatically add a liftgate, appointment service, inside delivery, temperature control, or another accessorial to a carrier’s order. Arrange those services separately through the carrier or broker, then write a concise reference for the handoff.
Do not hide a special service in a free-text note
If a service affects equipment, price, timing, access, safety, or acceptance, confirm it with the carrier or broker. A note can clarify an approved plan; it cannot reliably create one after the shipment is booked.
Use a note that tells someone exactly what to do
Equipment or access
Make an approved accessorial visible without assuming the note has arranged it: “Liftgate confirmed for delivery” or “Limited-access pickup; use east entrance.”
Freight handling
Describe a concrete, supportable condition: “Do not double-stack” or “Protect from freezing.” Confirm that the carrier accepted the requirement and that the packaging supports it.
Contact path
Include a role and phone number when it helps the driver solve a real arrival problem, such as “Call receiving 30 minutes before arrival: 555-0100.” Avoid putting unrelated personal data on the document.
A five-part special-instructions check
- 1Name the action, condition, or location—not just the concern.
- 2Use the same terms that appear in the booking, appointment, or customer routing guide.
- 3Include a reference or contact only when it helps the driver complete the handoff.
- 4Keep the note short enough to scan at the dock; put long procedures in the agreed carrier or customer workflow.
- 5Recheck that the instruction still fits the actual loaded freight and destination before the driver signs.
Special-instructions questions
Can I write “liftgate required” on the BOL?
You can make a confirmed liftgate requirement visible on the BOL, but contact the carrier or broker to arrange it. A note alone may not change the booked equipment or service level.
Should delivery hours go on the BOL?
If the receiving hours or check-in process are relevant to this load and match the confirmed delivery plan, a concise note can help. Do not use the BOL instead of making a required appointment.
What should I avoid putting in special instructions?
Avoid vague requests, unconfirmed services, conflicting directions, rate or claims arguments, and sensitive data that the driver does not need to complete pickup or delivery.
Related guides
Sources & scope
Updated August 22, 2026. Scope: U.S. domestic general freight. Carrier, broker, customer routing-guide, insurance, equipment, and regulated-cargo requirements control the actual service. Confirm services before tendering.
- NMFTA: Everything You Need to Know About a Bill of Lading — LTL BOL context and operational accuracy
- 49 CFR §373.101 — covered motor-carrier BOL baseline
Keep handoff details with the shipment record
DockBOL places special instructions directly beside the freight and party details in a live, print-ready BOL. Use it to communicate a confirmed plan clearly.
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