Paperhaul freight paperwork guide
Both documents relate to a freight shipment, but they are commonly used at different points in the journey: a bill of lading helps describe the shipment being handed off, while proof of delivery records what happened at delivery.
Create a bill of ladingThe practical difference
Before and during the shipment
A bill of lading is commonly used to organize and identify a shipment as it is prepared and handed to a carrier.
It often brings together shipment details such as the shipper, receiver, carrier, goods, and handling notes. The exact fields and workflow depend on the shipment and the parties involved.
At or after delivery
Proof of delivery is commonly used to record that a delivery took place at its destination.
Depending on the carrier’s process, it may include a recipient’s signature or electronic acknowledgement, delivery time, and notes about visible exceptions recorded at handoff.
General examples
These are common illustrations, not rules for every shipment. Names, fields, and steps can vary by carrier, customer, mode, and workflow.
EXAMPLE 01
A supplier arranges pickup of several pallets for a customer. The shipment paperwork lists the parties, carrier, freight description, and any handling notes being used for that move.
EXAMPLE 02
A receiver gets the pallets at the destination. The carrier’s delivery process records the drop-off, perhaps with a signature and a note about a visible exception.
Preparing shipment paperwork?
Use Paperhaul’s free tool to enter shipment details and create a bill of lading.
This page offers general information about common freight paperwork workflows. It is not legal or compliance advice; confirm the documents and process needed for a particular shipment with the carrier and other relevant parties.