Shipment record
Freight Bill of Lading and Claims Checklist
Record the commodity, handling units, measurements, classification, parties and special instructions required to support rating and later claims.
A useful bill of lading identifies the parties, carrier, destination, handling units, final packaged weight and dimensions, commodity description, applicable NMFC item, subprovision and class, special markings and service instructions. NMFTA's December 2025 update explicitly covers printed, digital and electronic forms and clarifies commodity-description fields.
What changes the result?
A useful calculation starts with the physical scope and the written commercial terms. These are the factors to make explicit:
- Shipper, consignee and carrier identities
- Handling units, weight and dimensions
- Commodity, packaging and hazardous status
- NMFC item, subprovision and class where applicable
- Special services, declared value and signatures
Use one scope for every quote
Give each business the same information and ask it to resolve the same boundaries. That makes the totals more comparable and exposes work left as an allowance or exclusion.
- Match the document to the final tender
- Use the current commodity description
- Record visible condition and photographs
- Keep the rate, bill, delivery receipt and claim correspondence
The shipping description supports the rate
NMFTA's Item 250100 update says descriptions should match the applicable tariff information, including the article, package, special markings, exceptions, NMFC item, subprovision and class. Vague descriptions make rating and handling harder to verify.
Packaging and value terms matter
The Uniform Straight Bill of Lading terms place packaging obligations on the shipper and contain special treatment for extraordinary-value articles and written agreements. Read the actual current carrier and shipment terms rather than assuming a default dollar of coverage.
Preserve evidence from tender through delivery
Keep the rate confirmation, bill of lading, pickup condition, seal information where applicable, delivery receipt, exception notes, photographs, invoice and timely claim correspondence. This checklist is operational information, not legal advice about a particular claim.
Questions people ask
What should an LTL bill of lading include?
Include the parties, carrier, handling units, weight, dimensions, commodity and packaging, applicable NMFC details, services, special instructions and signatures required by the governing rules.
Can a bill of lading be electronic?
NMFTA's current Item 250100 guidance explicitly covers printed, digital and electronic forms, subject to the applicable requirements.
Does the bill of lading prove freight class?
It records the tendered classification but does not prevent a carrier correction. Keep measurements and current NMFC support.
What evidence helps if freight is damaged?
Keep dated condition photographs, packaging evidence, the bill of lading, delivery receipt with exceptions, invoice and all timely written claim records.
Method and sources
The model is a planning tool, not a quotation. These are the published sources used for this page; read the full assumptions before relying on a range. Source review: 14 September 2026.
- NMFTA bill-of-lading rule update
Current printed, digital and electronic bill-of-lading requirements and commodity-description fields; reviewed 14 September 2026.
- NMFTA Uniform Straight Bill of Lading terms
Official packaging, declared-value and claims-term context; reviewed 14 September 2026.
- FedEx freight packing guidance
Carrier handling-unit, packaging and liftgate-size context; reviewed 14 September 2026.