On this page
- What Information Can a Bill of Lading Contain?
- Who Uses a Bill of Lading?
- Is a Bill of Lading the Same as a Truck Driver Logbook?
- Can a Bill of Lading Show What a Truck Was Carrying?
- Can a Bill of Lading Help Establish a Timeline?
- Can a Bill of Lading Identify the Trucking Company?
- Why Could Cargo Information Matter After an Accident?
- Is a Bill of Lading Proof of What Caused an Accident?
- Why Does It Matter After an Accident?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bills of Lading
In commercial trucking, it can provide information about the cargo being shipped, where it came from, where it was going, and the businesses involved in the shipment.
A bill of lading is sometimes shortened to BOL.
Although it may look like ordinary shipping paperwork, a bill of lading can serve several important purposes. It can document the receipt of goods, provide details about the shipment, and help establish the terms under which cargo is being transported.
After a serious commercial truck accident, a bill of lading may also help investigators understand the truck's trip and create a timeline of what the driver and vehicle were doing before the collision.
What Information Can a Bill of Lading Contain?
The exact information depends on the shipment and document being used.
A bill of lading may contain details such as:
- The shipper's name
- The carrier's name
- The receiving party or destination
- Pickup and delivery locations
- Description of the cargo
- Number of items or packages
- Weight information
- Shipping or identification numbers
- Special handling instructions
- Dates related to the shipment
The document may also contain signatures or other information showing when cargo was received or transferred.
Not every bill of lading will contain exactly the same information. Investigators should review the actual document rather than assume what a particular shipment record includes.
Who Uses a Bill of Lading?
Several parties involved in moving goods may use or receive information from a bill of lading.
One important party is the shipper, which is generally the person or business sending the goods.
Another is the carrier, which transports the shipment. In a commercial trucking operation, this may be the motor carrier responsible for moving the cargo.
The document may also identify the consignee, which is generally the person or business receiving the shipment.
Depending on how transportation is arranged, other companies or parties may also be involved.
This can become important after a truck accident because commercial transportation sometimes involves more businesses than the name printed on the side of the tractor.
However, simply appearing on a bill of lading does not automatically make a person or company responsible for an accident.
Is a Bill of Lading the Same as a Truck Driver Logbook?
No.
A bill of lading and a driver's logbook provide different kinds of information.
A bill of lading focuses primarily on the shipment.
A driver logbook or ELD record focuses primarily on the driver's duty status and driving time.
For example, a bill of lading might show that cargo was scheduled to travel from one location to another. The driver's ELD records may help show when the truck was actually being driven.
Investigators can sometimes compare these records to develop a more complete timeline.
Neither document necessarily tells the entire story on its own.
Can a Bill of Lading Show What a Truck Was Carrying?
It can provide information about the cargo listed for the shipment.
This can be important because tractor-trailers transport many different types of goods. The description and weight information on shipping records may help investigators understand what was being transported.
Cargo information can become especially relevant when questions arise about the truck's load, weight, securement, or handling.
However, investigators should avoid assuming that the information written on a bill of lading perfectly describes the truck's condition at the exact moment of an accident.
Other records and physical evidence may need to be examined as well.
For example, investigators might compare the bill of lading with loading records, weight information, photographs, cargo evidence, or other shipping documents.
Can a Bill of Lading Help Establish a Timeline?
Yes.
One of the most useful parts of shipping records can be the information they provide about a truck's trip.
Suppose a bill of lading identifies where a shipment was picked up and where it was supposed to be delivered. Investigators may compare that information with:
- ELD records
- Driver logbooks
- Dispatch communications
- GPS or telematics data
- Fuel receipts
- Delivery records
- Electronic fleet communications
- Other trip documents
Together, these records may help establish where the truck was traveling and what it was doing before the accident.
For example, if investigators are reviewing a driver's hours of service, pickup and delivery information may provide another source of information that can be compared with the driver's recorded timeline.
An inconsistency does not automatically mean someone falsified a record. There may be a reasonable explanation. It can, however, give investigators something to examine more closely.
Can a Bill of Lading Identify the Trucking Company?
A bill of lading may identify a motor carrier or other businesses involved in transporting the shipment.
That information can be useful during an investigation, particularly when multiple companies participated in arranging, loading, transporting, or receiving cargo.
However, identifying a company on a shipping document is not the same as proving that company is legally responsible for a collision.
Investigators may need to determine what role each business actually had.
For example, one company may have shipped the goods, another may have transported them, and another may have received them.
The relationships between the parties can be more complicated in some trucking operations.
That is why a bill of lading can be a useful starting point, but it should not automatically be treated as a complete explanation of the businesses involved.
Why Could Cargo Information Matter After an Accident?
Cargo can affect how a commercial truck operates.
The amount, placement, and securement of cargo can potentially affect the vehicle's handling and stability. Federal regulations also address cargo securement for commercial motor vehicles.
If an accident raises questions involving an overloaded trailer, shifted cargo, or unsecured freight, shipping documents may become part of the investigation.
Investigators may compare the bill of lading with other evidence to understand what was actually loaded onto the truck.
Again, the existence of heavy cargo does not automatically mean the truck was overloaded or unsafe.
The actual evidence must support that conclusion.
Is a Bill of Lading Proof of What Caused an Accident?
Usually not by itself.
A bill of lading is primarily a shipping document. It can provide valuable background information, but it normally does not show exactly how a collision occurred.
For example, it generally will not tell investigators whether a driver applied the brakes before impact or whether another vehicle changed lanes.
Other evidence may be better suited to answering those questions.
That could include dashcam footage, electronic vehicle data, photographs, witness statements, physical evidence, police information, and ELD records.
The value of the bill of lading is often how it fits with those other pieces of evidence.
Why Does It Matter After an Accident?
After a serious 18-wheeler accident, investigators may need to understand the truck's entire trip, not just the final moments before the collision.
A bill of lading may help identify the shipment, pickup and delivery locations, cargo information, carrier, and other businesses connected to the transportation.
At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, when we investigate a serious Louisiana truck accident, we can examine available bills of lading and other shipping documents alongside ELD records, dispatch information, GPS data, cargo records, and other evidence.
If the accident raises questions about the truck's route, cargo, schedule, or the businesses involved in the shipment, we can use these documents to help build a clearer picture of the trucking operation.
We do not assume that a name appearing on a bill of lading automatically means that business is legally responsible. Instead, we investigate what role each party actually played and how the information relates to the collision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bills of Lading
What does BOL mean in trucking?
BOL usually means bill of lading. It is a shipping document that can contain information about the cargo, shipper, carrier, destination, and other details of a shipment.
Does a truck driver have a bill of lading?
A bill of lading is commonly associated with commercial shipments, and drivers or carriers may have access to shipping documentation during transportation. The exact records and format can depend on the shipment and operation.
Can a bill of lading show how much cargo was on a truck?
A bill of lading may contain cargo descriptions, quantities, or weight information. Investigators may compare that information with other records and physical evidence when cargo weight is relevant.
Does a bill of lading prove a truck was overloaded?
No. Information on a bill of lading may be relevant to a weight investigation, but the document alone does not automatically prove that the truck exceeded an applicable weight limit.
How would we use a bill of lading after a truck accident?
At Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, we can use available bills of lading to help understand the truck's shipment, route, cargo, and the businesses involved in transportation. We may compare that information with driver logs, ELD records, dispatch communications, GPS data, and other evidence to help reconstruct the trip before the collision.
This article is general information about Louisiana law and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines can change, and every case depends on its own facts. Past results do not guarantee or predict future outcomes. Reading this page or contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.
