BOL Or Shipping Paper Requirements.
Topic 21915 | Page 1
Michael, we focus on helping new drivers understand how to make a good start at this career. We are not geared toward giving advice to independent contractors. I suggest you pose your question to the fine folks at OOIDA .
I do know that if you are uncomfortable doing things this way, you can easily make your own BOL for these trips. You can find some blank forms for BOL's or shipping manifests at just about any truck stop. I've used them before when I had a load but didn't receive any paperwork for it.
Manifest:
Bill of Lading
An accurate record of everything being shipped on a truck, often times used as a checklist during unloading.
OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.
Thanks for the reply.. understandable to have extra BOL sheets on hand if shipping papers are missing. Aren't shipping papers required by law for every shipment? I guess that is my question, and wouldn't it be the shipper or consignee's responsibility? Seems kind of strange to do pickups without receiving paperwork while with the shipper. Loads are not locked or even sealed and it seems like a huge driver liability.
Consignee:
The customer the freight is being delivered to. Also referred to as "the receiver". The shipper is the customer that is shipping the goods, the consignee is the customer receiving the goods.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Dang.. this site says it's the carriers responsiblity.. and since I'm subcontracted, yep, it's probably on me.
https://www.flexport.com/help/211-bill-of-lading-purpose
I have only ran into this once, but was told it was the carriers responsibility also. I was in the middle of no where at a quarry in AL. I took a blank piece of printer paper and wrote the quanity, description, approx. weight, who I got it from name/address, and where it was going name and address on it. We both signed it. As my luck would have it I got pulled into a GA scale and they were checking paperwork. The officer looked it over, and told me to have a nice day. It was either ok or he felt sorry for me.
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So I just started for a company as a independent contractor. I pickup palleted freight from a warehouse and haul it back to my terminal. I was surprised when no paper work was given and my supervisor said that they are not required to have paperwork for these loads.? Hmm different from anything I have ever heard. Are there certain exemptions? This is prepackaged freight with shipping labels already tagged.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.