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Blank Bill Of Lading

Use a Blank Bill Of Lading 2015 template to make your document workflow more streamlined.

What a blank bill of lading records

A Blank Bill Of Lading is an uncompleted transport record used to document freight, shipment parties, and delivery terms before goods move. The shipper enters the origin, consignee, carrier, cargo description, package count, weight, freight classification, and special instructions; the carrier acknowledges receipt and the receiver may confirm delivery or note exceptions. It is not a government tax form or a universal official template, so parties should align fields with the applicable carrier contract, Uniform Commercial Code provisions, and state law. signNow can turn the completed PDF into an auditable electronic record.

Who uses a blank bill of lading

Shippers

Shippers complete cargo descriptions, package counts, weights, ship-from details, and consignee information before releasing freight. A signed Blank Bill Of Lading records the agreed shipment particulars for carriers, warehouses, and receiving teams.

Carriers and receivers

Carriers and receiving teams use the completed record to confirm custody, delivery condition, exceptions, and signatures. A structured electronic copy reduces transcription work and keeps shipment evidence available for later commercial disputes.

Business types using shipment records

A Blank Bill Of Lading supports freight workflows ranging from owner-operated carriers to multi-site logistics departments handling repeat shipments.

  • Small freight brokers can reuse a Blank Bill Of Lading template, enter shipment-specific cargo details, and obtain shipper and carrier signatures without exchanging handwritten scans.
  • Regional carriers can complete bills on mobile devices at pickup, capture delivery exceptions, and return signed records to dispatch or customers through an auditable workflow.
  • Enterprise logistics teams can connect shipment records with NetSuite, Procore, or cloud storage while controlling access, templates, and signing order across multiple facilities.

These tasks are executed by both individual contributors and centralized administrators depending on organizational policy and required controls.

Features for electronic bills of lading

signNow combines structured shipment fields, signer routing, mobile access, and audit evidence for teams completing Blank Bill Of Lading records.

Form fields

Upload a Blank Bill Of Lading PDF and use detected or added fields for origin, consignee, cargo, quantity, weight, and signature details.

Signer routing

Assign shipper, carrier, and receiver fields so each party signs or acknowledges the specific shipment information relevant to them.

Flexible delivery

Send the shipment record by email, mobile workflow, or signing link when parties are working at different locations.

Audit trail

Capture signer actions, timestamps, and completion evidence alongside the signed bill, helping teams review shipment history during disputes.

Reusable templates

Use templates for repeat lanes or freight workflows while updating shipment-specific details before each document is sent.

Business integrations

Connect signed records with systems such as NetSuite, Procore, Google Drive, Box, or Microsoft 365 for controlled document handling.

How to complete the bill of lading

The signNow workflow follows the shipment record from an empty PDF to a signed, retrievable transport document.

  • Upload form: Upload the blank bill of lading PDF.
  • Prepare fields: Auto-detect fields, then add missing shipment fields.
  • Route document: Send the completed record to shipper, carrier, or receiver.
  • Complete record: Collect signatures and store the audit trail.
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Quick steps for completing the form

Prepare the shipment information before sending the Blank Bill Of Lading, then preserve the completed document and its signing evidence.

  • Upload document:

    Upload the Blank Bill Of Lading PDF to signNow.
  • Add shipment fields:

    Place fields for cargo, parties, dates, and signatures.
  • Assign signers:

    Assign fields to the shipper, carrier, and receiver.
  • Send for signing:

    Send the record and monitor completion status.
  • Store evidence:

    Download the signed bill and audit trail.

How the audit trail protects shipment evidence

A signed Blank Bill Of Lading should preserve both the transport details and evidence showing who signed, when, and what changed.

01

Authenticate signer:

Records the authentication event and method used by each signer.
02

Capture timestamps:

Captures when each field, signature, or approval action occurred.
03

Hash document:

Links the completed PDF to its document hash.
04

Seal completion:

Preserves evidence of changes through tamper-evident completion records.
05

Log activity:

Stores IP address and action history for review.
06

Export evidence:

Allows authorized users to retrieve and export the audit trail.

Use mobile tools for bill of lading

Sign a Blank Bill Of Lading on iOS 16 or later and Android 11 or later through the signNow mobile apps, with camera capture available.

  • Mobile apps iOS 16 and Android 11 or later
  • Camera capture Capture bills using iPhone or Android cameras
  • Offline signing Continue signing without network access

Mobile workflows help carriers, shippers, and receiving teams capture a paper bill, complete shipment fields, and sign at the point of handoff. Offline signing supports work in yards or warehouses with limited connectivity; synchronize the completed record when access returns and preserve the associated audit trail.

Find and fill out the correct blank bill of lading 100936056

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VersionsForm popularityFillable & printable
*2015 Blank Bill of Lading to be used for ALL TJX Shipments [2015-06] 20154.8 Satisfied (5631 Votes)

Recommended shipment workflow setup

Configure the Blank Bill Of Lading workflow around signer identity, shipment evidence, controlled access, and secure retention.

SettingRecommendation
Authentication methodEmail verification with SMS 2FA
Signature typeTyped or drawn electronic signature
Audit trail and retentionExport audit trail with final shipment record
EncryptionTLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 protection
User provisioningRole-based access for logistics teams

Connect shipment records to business systems

Connect Blank Bill Of Lading workflows with logistics, storage, and productivity systems to route signed records without repeated manual downloads.

Salesforce
Procore
Zapier
Microsoft Teams
Hub spot
Box
Microsoft

Bill of lading processing stages

Processing time depends on shipment readiness and signer coordination; these stages identify the records that must be completed before closure.

01

Document preparation

Enter shipment parties, cargo, weights, and transport terms before dispatch.
02

Delivery to signers

Deliver the prepared bill by email, mobile app, or signing link.
03

Signer turnaround

Collect shipper, carrier, and receiver signatures before closing the handoff.
04

Completion and archival

Download the signed record and preserve its audit trail with shipment files.

Record-keeping practices for shipment records

Retain each signed Blank Bill Of Lading according to its contract, business, tax, and dispute requirements, with an exportable audit history.

Set a documented retention period

Keep the completed Blank Bill Of Lading and delivery evidence together for the period required by the applicable contract, carrier policy, tax rule, or litigation hold. Federal rules differ by record type; do not apply HIPAA’s six-year rule unless the shipment record contains covered health information.

Export the audit trail with each record

Export the signNow audit trail with the final signed bill, including signer actions, timestamps, and completion evidence. Store the export with the shipment number and related delivery records so a reviewer can connect the document to the specific freight movement without relying on platform access.

Archive shipment records securely

Use restricted storage for bills containing addresses, phone numbers, product details, or commercial terms. Apply role-based access, encryption, and deletion controls, and preserve an unaltered copy when a carrier dispute, insurance claim, or court hold requires continued retention.

Reconcile shipment details before signing

Review every blank field before signing, especially quantity, weight, freight classification, consignee address, declared value, and exception notes. Require the shipper and carrier to resolve discrepancies before release, then preserve the final version rather than an unfinished template.

Common bill of lading problems

  • Leaving cargo quantity, weight, or freight classification blank can create disputes about what the carrier accepted and what charges apply.
  • Using inconsistent shipper, consignee, or delivery addresses can delay handoff and weaken the record’s connection to the actual shipment.
  • Recording exceptions after signature without a corresponding acknowledgment can make it difficult to establish when damage or shortage was observed.
  • Sharing a completed bill with unrestricted access can expose customer addresses, product details, pricing, or other commercially sensitive shipment information.

Security for electronic shipment records

Data encryption:

TLS 1.2 and AES-256

Independent assurance:

SOC 2 Type II certified

Security certification:

ISO 27001 certified

Electronic signatures:

ESIGN and UETA compliant

Signer verification:

Two-factor authentication available

Document evidence:

Detailed Audit Trails

Troubleshooting a blank bill of lading

Resolve field, signer, plan, and evidence issues by checking the shipment data first, then the signNow workflow configuration.

Upload the original PDF again, then check whether the page contains selectable text or usable form fields. If detection misses a cargo, consignee, or signature field, add it manually in the signNow editor and assign it to the correct signer.

Review the assigned recipient email, signing order, and required-field settings. Resend the invitation or provide a signNow signing link after confirming the carrier, shipper, or receiver can access the assigned document.

Use signNow Business Premium when the same Blank Bill Of Lading must be sent to many separate recipients. The ground-truth plan description identifies bulk send as a Business Premium feature; Business plan bulk-send availability is not verified.

For U.S. business transactions, ESIGN and applicable state electronic-transactions law can support electronic signatures when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are demonstrated. Confirm any carrier, broker, or state-law requirement before relying on an electronic bill.

Add SMS two-factor authentication or another available signer-verification method when shipment value, delivery disputes, or internal policy requires stronger attribution. Keep the signNow Audit Trail with the signed bill for identity and event evidence.

Do not leave quantity, weight, cargo description, consignee, or delivery-exception fields unresolved. Correct the document before signing, because signNow’s audit trail records the completed workflow but does not decide whether the shipment data itself is accurate.

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