BOL generator: a standard VICS truck bill of lading in 2 minutes

Fill a truck bill of lading without staring at a blank form: import from TMS shipments, address book, auto totals, NMFC/class helper — then print one page.

A bill of lading (B/L) is the contract between shipper and carrier: it proves the carrier received your freight, it describes what is being moved, and it sets the freight terms (prepaid or collect). In US trucking the VICS straight bill of lading is the industry-standard form — every carrier, 3PL and LTL terminal recognizes it. This generator makes a standard, printable VICS B/L fast.

When to use it#

Two situations. (1) You already use Docklify: open the generator from Utilities, import a TMS shipment, check the fields, print. (2) You just need a B/L right now — a walk-in customer, a favor for a partner, an urgent load outside the system: open it, fill the blank form, print. No shipment record required.

The smart features#

1. Import from TMS shipments: origin, destination, carrier, weight and package count come over automatically; import only fills blanks — it never overwrites what you already typed. 2. Address book: ship from / ship to / third party share one book, fuzzy search, new addresses are remembered when you export. 3. Smart totals: customer order lines and carrier lines each total themselves into GRAND TOTAL; a warning appears if package counts disagree. Switch LB↔KG with one click. 4. Templates: save a frequent lane and apply it in one click. 5. Freight terms: Prepaid / Collect / 3rd Party, with the industry default (prepaid unless marked otherwise) built in. 6. Draft box: unfinished B/Ls are saved; copy a previous B/L, get a fresh B/L number, change the trailer number and go.

Printing#

The preview is the standard VICS straight bill of lading layout: black section bars (SHIP FROM / SHIP TO / CUSTOMER ORDER INFORMATION / CARRIER INFORMATION), barcode spaces, freight terms checkboxes, and the three-column signature block at the bottom. It fits one page for typical loads. The carrier signature line is left blank — sign by hand after printing.

Freight class and NMFC#

In the CARRIER INFORMATION table, the LTL ONLY columns ask for NMFC # and CLASS. The NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) number identifies your commodity; the freight class (50–500) is set by density, handling and liability — carriers use it to price LTL shipments. If you ship full truckload you can leave these blank. The H.M. (X) checkbox marks hazardous materials.