Generate a Bill of Lading (BOL)

Before You Use This Article

• Access needed: Load Manager login and permission to use this screen, report, setting, or workflow.
• Use this article when: you are creating, updating, dispatching, documenting, importing, exporting, or tracking a load in Load Manager.
• Use a different article when: you need the company-specific dispatch document instead; brokers should use Rate Confirmation Layout and Features, dispatch services should use Dispatch Report Overview for Dispatch Services, and trucking companies should use Dispatch Report Overview for Carriers and Trucking Companies. For full setup order, start with Freight Brokers, Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies, or Dispatch Services.

Load Manager can generate a Bill of Lading (BOL) from the information saved on the load. The BOL can include company information, pickup and delivery stops, BOL number, PO number, commodity details, weights, classes, carrier or driver information, and BOL terms depending on your setup.

Before You Generate the BOL

Review the load before opening the BOL:

• Customer, PO number, and reference details.
• Pickup and delivery names, addresses, contacts, and dates.
• Commodity descriptions, quantities, weights, freight class, and hazmat details when needed.
• Carrier or driver assignment, depending on your TMS type.
• Any blind shipment settings that should hide stop names, addresses, or contacts.

Review BOL Settings

Administrators can review BOL-related settings before using the report.

1. Go to Settings >> Configuration Options.
2. Review the BOL-related settings.
3. Make any needed changes.
4. Click Save.

Settings may control items such as short BOL terms, whether BOL commodity lines come from the Commodities and Accessorials table, whether carrier information appears, and the default BOL email subject.

Open the BOL from the Load

1. Open the saved load.
2. Select B.O.L. Report.
3. Review the BOL screen before printing, downloading, or emailing.

Edit BOL Details Before Printing or Emailing

The BOL screen lets you review and adjust BOL-specific fields before creating the final PDF. Use this screen to confirm the details that should print on the document.

Choose the BOL Output

After reviewing the BOL details, choose the output you need.

• Email BOL: Emails the BOL PDF directly from Load Manager.
• Regular BOL: Downloads or opens the standard BOL PDF.
• Straight or Short BOL: Downloads or opens a shorter BOL format using your short BOL terms when configured.

Email the BOL

1. Select the BOL email option.
2. Review the recipient email address.
3. Review the subject and message.
4. Send the email.

Load Manager uses your configured BOL email subject and the user's connected email settings when sending the BOL.

TMS Type Notes

• Freight Broker: The BOL may include carrier details when the carrier information setting is enabled.
• Dispatch Service: The BOL can still be generated from the load, but the carrier-facing dispatch document is a Dispatch Report, not a Rate Confirmation.
• Carrier or Trucking Company: The BOL is generated from the load and assigned driver workflow. Driver-facing dispatch documents are Dispatch Reports.

Troubleshooting

• The BOL button is missing: Confirm the load is saved and your user role has access to BOL reports.
• Stop information is wrong: Update pickup or delivery stop details on the load, save, and reopen the BOL.
• Commodity information is missing: Review the BOL commodity setting and the load's commodity/accessorial rows or BOL-specific rows.
• Carrier information is missing: Confirm the setting to show carrier information on the BOL is enabled and the carrier is assigned to the load.
• Email does not send: Confirm the sender's email setup is complete and the recipient address is valid.

Related Articles

• Document Configuration for BOLs, Rate Confirmations, Quotes, and Invoices
• Use the Load Screen to Build and Manage a Load
• Add Weight to a Load
• Set Up Commodity and Accessorial Types