BOL (Bill of Lading)
The legal shipping document issued at pickup that serves as the contract of carriage, the receipt for the freight, and the description of what is being moved.
How it works — and why it matters
The BOL lists shipper, consignee, commodity, quantities, weight, and special instructions, and the driver's signature at pickup acknowledges receipt of the freight as described. At delivery the receiver signs it — noting any shortage or damage — and that signed copy becomes the proof of delivery the carrier invoices against.
Operationally the BOL anchors the load's paper trail: claims, detention disputes, and freight-bill audits all reference it. Digitizing BOL capture (driver app photos, e-BOLs) shortens the invoice cycle, since a carrier can't bill until the delivery documents are in hand — days of mail time that document scanning and mobile capture eliminate.