What is a bill of lading?

A bill of lading (BOL) is a legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper. It serves three purposes: a receipt for goods, a contract of carriage, and a document of title. It lists the shipper, consignee, carrier, and details of the freight being transported.

Is this BOL legally binding in Canada?

This tool generates a straight bill of lading that follows standard Canadian freight industry conventions. For it to be legally binding, it must be signed by an authorized carrier representative and the shipper. You are responsible for ensuring the document meets your specific carrier's requirements and any applicable regulatory standards.

Do I need a bill of lading for every shipment?

Yes. A bill of lading is required for virtually all commercial freight shipments. LTL carriers require a BOL for each shipment. For cross-border Canada-US moves, the BOL is also part of the customs documentation package.

What is a PRO number on a bill of lading?

A PRO number (Progressive Rotating Order number) is a unique tracking number assigned by the carrier. You typically leave this blank when creating the BOL — the carrier fills it in when they pick up the shipment.

Document Generator

Bill of Lading
Generator

Generate a standard straight bill of lading for any freight shipment. Fill in the details below and download as a PDF.

Quick Presets— pre-fill all fields instantly

Draft document — not legal advice

This is a shipper-prepared draft bill of lading provided for planning and documentation convenience. It is not legal advice. Terms of carriage are governed by the carrier's tariff and applicable law. OTR Logistics Solutions does not certify compliance.

Company Logo (optional — appears in PDF header)

Your logo appears only on the downloaded PDF. No OTR Logistics Solutions branding is included in the generated document.

BOL Reference Numbers

Document reference

OTR-BOL-20260828-K7JS

Auto-generated for this document. Printed on the PDF and encoded as a scannable QR code.

BOL Number

BOL Date

PRO Number (carrier)

PO / Reference #

Shipper (From)

Saved Shipper profiles

Company Name *

Street Address *

City *

Province / State *

Postal / ZIP

Phone

Pickup Date

Consignee (To)

Saved Consignee profiles

Company Name *

Street Address *

City *

Province / State *

Postal / ZIP

Phone

Requested Delivery Date

Carrier Information

Carrier Name

SCAC Code

Trailer # / Vehicle

Freight Description

Line 1

Qty

Unit

Description of Goods *

Weight (lbs)

NMFC Class

Hazmat

Billing & Terms

Freight Charges

Declared Value

COD Amount

Special Instructions

Terms and Conditions

This Bill of Lading template is provided for convenience only and does not constitute legal advice. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, tariffs, and transportation agreements.

About This BOL

Standard straight BOL: This generates a straight bill of lading, meaning it is non-negotiable and the consignee named on the form is the party entitled to receive the goods.
Carrier requirements vary: Many carriers use their own BOL forms. Confirm with your carrier whether they accept a shipper-prepared BOL or require their own form.
Hazmat: If your shipment contains dangerous goods, additional documentation (TDG Schedule 1 shipping document in Canada, USDOT papers in the US) is required beyond the standard BOL.
Cross-border: For Canada-US shipments, the BOL is part of the documentation package — you will also need a commercial invoice, packing list, and PARS/PAPS barcode.

Related Guide

Freight Brokerage

How to Write a Proper Bill of Lading: A Shipper's Guide

9 min read

About this tool

What it calculates

Generates a standard straight bill of lading document you can download as a PDF and present at pickup.

Who it's for

Carriers and shippers who need a formatted BOL for domestic or cross-border freight shipments.

What you'll need

Shipper and consignee names and addresses, carrier name, BOL number, piece count, freight description, weight, declared value, and any special instructions.

How to use the result

Review every field carefully before download. Both shipper and carrier sign the BOL at pickup. Keep a copy on file — it is the primary contract of carriage.

Key assumptions

This is a standard straight BOL. It does not replace a carrier-specific BOL form where one is required. It does not constitute a hazardous materials shipping paper for TDG / HAZMAT shipments.

When to confirm with a specialist

For regulated goods (TDG, CFIA, cannabis, high-value cargo), confirm documentation requirements with OTR Logistics Solutions or your compliance officer before tendering the shipment.

Need help with this shipment?

OTR Logistics Solutions specialists available 24/7 — no account required.

1-855-247-OTR0