Shipper / consignor
Enter the company or party tendering the freight, plus the real pickup location and a contact who can resolve a pickup issue. A corporate headquarters is not helpful if the truck is loading at a different dock.
Parties & locations
Shipper vs. consignee vs. bill-to on a bill of lading
The shipper starts the carrier handoff, the consignee is the named delivery recipient, and the bill-to party is the approved freight-billing contact when one is needed. These roles can be different even when the companies are related.
Use the physical shipment role, then add billing separately
The shipper or consignor is the origin-side party tendering freight for transportation. The consignee is the named destination-side recipient. A bill-to party is a billing contact for freight charges, typically relevant when the agreed terms call for third-party billing.
A common paperwork error is replacing the consignee’s receiving address with an accounts payable address or placing a 3PL billing company in the destination field. Keep the actual pickup and delivery details with the freight, then add a separate bill-to party when the carrier’s process requires it.
Names can have contractual significance
This page explains practical BOL fields, not ownership, legal responsibility, customs, or payment liability. Use the names and addresses the carrier, customer, and commercial agreement require for the shipment at hand.
Give each party one job on the document
Consignee
Enter the named receiver and its real delivery location. Include a receiving contact or dock detail when it helps the driver complete the delivery under the confirmed plan.
Bill-to party
Add a separate bill-to party only when the freight term and carrier process call for it. The bill-to address should not displace the pickup or delivery address.
Carrier
Keep the carrier’s name and SCAC, if known, separate from all three commercial parties. The carrier may issue a PRO number after the shipment is tendered.
A quick role-and-address map
| Field | Primary job | Address to use |
|---|---|---|
| Shipper | Tender freight at origin. | Actual pickup location and the origin-side contact. |
| Consignee | Receive freight at destination. | Actual delivery or receiving location and destination contact. |
| Bill to | Receive carrier billing when required. | Approved billing address; do not use it as the delivery location. |
Before you print the party details
- 1Compare shipper and consignee names and addresses with the pickup and delivery booking.
- 2Add suite, dock, gate, receiving, or contact information that a driver needs to locate the handoff.
- 3Use a bill-to party only if the freight terms and carrier process call for one.
- 4Keep invoice, corporate-office, broker, and 3PL addresses out of the physical location fields unless they are the actual handoff location.
- 5Confirm the fields again if a customer changes a receiving location, appointment, or billing party.
BOL party questions
Can the consignee and bill-to party be different?
Yes. A consignee receives the freight, while an approved bill-to party can receive the carrier’s billing. Keep their roles and addresses separate on the BOL.
Should I put the customer’s accounts-payable address in the consignee field?
No, unless that is also the actual delivery location. The consignee field should help the carrier deliver the freight to the correct receiving party and location.
Is the shipper always the owner or seller of the goods?
Not necessarily. The practical BOL role is the party tendering freight at origin. Ownership, sale terms, and other legal roles can be different and should be handled in the appropriate agreement and documents.
Related guides
Sources & scope
Updated August 22, 2026. Scope: U.S. domestic general freight. Shipper, consignee, payer, owner, importer, and broker roles can differ by transaction and mode. Confirm names, addresses, and responsibilities with the carrier and commercial parties.
- FMCSA glossary: Bill of Lading — BOL definition and commercial-shipper terminology
- 49 CFR §373.101 — consignor, consignee, origin, and destination baseline
Put the correct people and locations on one live BOL
DockBOL separates shipper, consignee, carrier, and optional third-party bill-to details. Review the complete route and payer before you hand the document to the driver.
Free · no account · local address book for repeat entries