Collection amount
Enter the exact amount the carrier has agreed to collect. Do not use a general invoice total or an estimate that the receiver has not been told to expect.
Collection instructions
Cash on delivery (COD) on a bill of lading: what to confirm
Use a COD block only when the carrier has agreed to collect a specified amount under a defined process. A complete instruction identifies the amount, the remit-to party, and the agreed treatment of the carrier’s COD fee.
COD is a collection instruction, not a freight-term shortcut
A COD entry asks the carrier to collect a stated amount at delivery and remit it as agreed. It is different from choosing prepaid, collect, or third-party freight terms, which direct the carrier’s transportation billing. A shipment can need one, both, or neither depending on the carrier arrangement.
Because acceptance methods, limits, fees, remittance, and exceptions vary, the practical first step is always the carrier or broker’s written COD process. Complete the BOL only after the shipper, carrier, and receiver have the same amount and collection instruction.
Confirm the carrier’s COD service before relying on the document
Do not assume every carrier accepts COD, accepts the same form of payment, or treats an undelivered collection the same way. Confirm the service, fee, remittance, and exception process in advance.
The information a usable COD instruction needs
Remit-to party
Name the person or business that should receive the collected amount and provide the address required by the carrier’s process. This may be different from the shipper, consignee, and freight bill-to party.
COD fee terms
If the carrier charges a COD fee, record whether the agreed fee handling is prepaid or collect. Do not infer the fee treatment from the shipment’s regular freight terms.
Accepted payment
Follow the carrier’s specific payment rules. If a check limitation or other collection condition is confirmed, make it visible only in the way the carrier requests.
Before sending a COD shipment
- 1Confirm that the carrier or broker accepted COD for this shipment and lane.
- 2Match the amount, currency, remit-to party, and collection timing to the written instruction.
- 3Confirm accepted payment forms and who pays any COD fee.
- 4Tell the consignee what will be collected and what payment process the carrier expects.
- 5Keep COD collection separate from the freight-term choice and ordinary freight invoice.
COD BOL questions
Is COD the same as collect freight?
No. Collect freight directs the carrier to bill transportation charges to the consignee. COD asks the carrier to collect a separate stated amount at delivery under its agreed process.
Can I add a COD amount after the driver arrives?
Ask the carrier or broker. A late change can conflict with the booking, payment instruction, or receiver notice, so do not assume the driver can accept it.
Does a COD amount provide cargo insurance or declared value?
No. A collection amount and a declared or released value serve different purposes. Confirm any valuation or insurance arrangement separately with the relevant provider.
Related guides
Sources & scope
Updated August 22, 2026. Scope: U.S. domestic general freight. COD availability, collection method, fees, remittance, and exceptions are carrier- and contract-specific. Confirm the written process before tendering.
- FMCSA collection-of-charges guidance — household-goods collection context; not a general-freight COD rule
- 49 CFR §373.103 — covered motor-carrier freight/expense-bill information
Put the agreed collection details on the PDF
DockBOL provides optional COD amount, fee-term, remit-to, and payment-note fields next to the freight terms. Use them only after the carrier-approved collection process is clear.
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