Free tool — no signup
Straight bill of lading generator
Fill in the shipment, watch the document build itself, and download a print-ready US Letter PDF with scannable barcodes. The generator opens in straight BOL mode — free, no account, and your data never leaves this browser.
- Free — no account, no watermark
- Code 128 barcodes for BOL & PRO
- Exact US Letter vector PDF
- Auto-saves in your browser
What is a straight bill of lading?
A straight bill of lading is the standard, non-negotiable shipping document used for most U.S. LTL and truckload freight. “Straight” means the shipment is consigned to one named receiver: the carrier is instructed to deliver only to the consignee written on the document — never to “the order of” someone who could trade or sell the paper itself.
Like every BOL it does three jobs at once — it is the carrier's receipt for the goods, the contract of carriage between shipper and carrier, and the delivery instruction. Because it is non-negotiable it is not a document of title, which keeps it simple: no endorsements, no originals to surrender, no bank in the middle. For interstate shipments, loss-and-damage liability is governed by the Carmack Amendment (49 U.S.C. §14706), and the terms printed on the BOL are part of that contract — which is why accurate piece counts, weights, and classes matter.
When a straight BOL is the right form
If you ship pallets or truckloads to a business you can name, and nobody needs to trade the document, the straight BOL is almost certainly your form:
- Everyday LTL and truckload shipments to a known receiver — warehouses, job sites, stores, and businesses.
- Prepaid, collect, or third-party billing — the straight form covers all three freight terms.
- Shipments where the receiver doesn't require a retail-specific format like the VICS bill of lading.
- Any load where you want a non-negotiable receipt and contract that names exactly one consignee.
Two situations call for something else:
- Retail distribution centers that expect the VICS standard with a 17-digit GS1 shipment ID — use DockBOL's VICS/GS1 mode instead.
- Shipments that must be negotiable (an “order” bill of lading, where the document itself can be traded) — rare in domestic trucking and handled with your carrier or bank.
| Form | Negotiable? | Typical use | Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight BOL | No — named consignee only | Most LTL & truckload freight | Your BOL ref + carrier PRO (Code 128) |
| VICS BOL | No — named consignee only | Retail inbound / distribution centers | 17-digit GS1 ID · GS1-128 AI (402) |
| Order BOL | Yes — document of title, can be traded | Financed or in-transit sales; rare domestically | Varies |
What to have ready before you fill it in
A straight BOL takes minutes when the details are at hand. This is everything the generator asks for, grouped the way the form is organized:
Parties
- Shipper & consignee: full name, street, city, state, ZIP
- Contact name and phone for both ends
- Bill-to name, address & account (third-party billing only)
Shipment
- Ship date and your internal BOL reference
- Carrier name and SCAC code
- Trailer and seal numbers
- Carrier PRO number — assigned at pickup; add it when known
Freight
- Handling units & type (pallets, skids…)
- Piece count & package type (cartons, drums…)
- Gross weight per line
- Commodity description
- NMFC item # and freight class for LTL rating
- Dimensions if you want density (lb/ft³) calculated
Terms & notes
- Freight terms: prepaid, collect, or third party
- Special instructions (liftgate, appointment, hours…)
- Hazmat details, when applicable
- Signatures at pickup and delivery
Don't know your NMFC item or freight class? Leave it blank and confirm it against the current NMFC (NMFTA ClassIT) or with your carrier before tendering — a guessed class is how reweigh-and-reclass invoices happen. DockBOL calculates density from dimensions, but never invents a classification for you.
What the finished document looks like
This is page one of a straight BOL filled in DockBOL (sample data). Every field from the checklist above lands on the document — ruled party blocks, the carrier box with its PRO barcode, the commodity table with running totals, freight terms, and the signature lines that make it a legal receipt.
On every DockBOL straight BOL
- Ship From / Ship To blocks with contacts and SID/CID references
- Your BOL reference as a scannable Code 128 barcode
- Carrier, SCAC, trailer, seal — plus the PRO number with its own barcode
- Commodity lines with NMFC item, class, weight, and density
- Prepaid / Collect / Third-party freight terms, clearly marked
- Shipper, carrier, and consignee signature blocks
- BOL reference and page numbers repeated on continuation pages
Free · no account · auto-saves in your browser
Straight bill of lading FAQ
What makes a bill of lading “straight”?
The consignment. A straight BOL names one specific consignee and instructs the carrier to deliver only to that party — it cannot be sold or endorsed to someone else the way an “order” (negotiable) bill can. That non-negotiable simplicity is exactly why the straight form covers the vast majority of U.S. LTL and truckload freight.
Is a straight BOL the same as a VICS BOL?
No. The straight BOL is the general-purpose form; the VICS bill of lading is the retail-industry standard that adds a 17-digit shipment ID built from your GS1 company prefix (encoded as a GS1-128 barcode with AI 402) plus SID/CID location identifiers. Both are non-negotiable — the difference is the identifier system and layout retail DCs expect. DockBOL runs both modes; switch at the top of the generator.
Do I need the carrier's PRO number before I create the BOL?
No. The carrier assigns the PRO number, often at pickup. Create and print the BOL without it, then add the PRO when you have it — DockBOL prints it as its own scannable Code 128 barcode. Your draft auto-saves locally, so updating later costs you nothing.
Can I use a straight BOL for hazmat freight?
Yes — the straight form is routinely used for hazmat — but the shipment must also meet the hazmat shipping-paper rules in 49 CFR 172 Subpart C: UN/NA identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class or division, packing group when applicable, total quantity, and an emergency response phone. DockBOL reveals structured hazmat fields on any commodity line you flag. The offeror (shipper) is responsible for the accuracy and compliance of those entries.
How many copies should I print?
Common practice is three: one for the shipper's records, one that rides with the driver, and one for the consignee at delivery. Some carriers or receivers ask for an extra copy — print at 100% scale (actual size, not fit-to-page) so the barcodes scan cleanly on every copy.
Can the consignee be changed after the BOL is issued?
Not by editing the paper — a straight BOL instructs delivery to the named consignee only, and carriers follow it. Changes go through the carrier's own process (a corrected BOL or their authorization procedure). In DockBOL, fix the Ship To block and re-export the PDF before you tender the freight.
Can I use this straight BOL for an interstate household-goods move?
No. DockBOL’s standard Straight BOL generator is not for interstate household-goods moves for individual shippers. It does not provide the separate household-goods carrier workflow required by 49 CFR Part 375.
Guides & references
What is a bill of lading?
Receipt, contract of carriage, and delivery instruction — who signs it, and a worked example.
Straight vs. VICS bill of lading
Which document your receiver expects, and the 17-digit math worked end to end.
BOL and PRO barcodes that scan
Code 128 and GS1-128 (AI 402) vector barcodes with proper quiet zones.
LTL freight class and NMFC — an honest note
What density tells you, what it can't, and who actually assigns classes.
How to create a BOL with DockBOL
Five steps from blank form to a print-ready PDF, with document checks along the way.
General bill of lading FAQ
Pricing, signup, data privacy, and how the 17-digit VICS number is calculated.
Bill of lading template PDF
Fill the template online, preview it live, and download a clean US Letter PDF — start blank or load a sample.
All DockBOL guides
BOL basics, straight vs. VICS, barcodes, and freight class — the full reference shelf.
Ready when the truck is
Open the generator in straight BOL mode, type the shipment, and hand the driver a clean, scannable document. No signup, no watermark — the PDF is the product.
Create a straight BOL — free