BOLs

A Bill Of Lading is a document created by the carrier to acknowledge that they have in their possession the items that will be transported, it is a legal document.

 

Created by the carrier? Um, wow, I guess I've been doing it wrong, then.

 

Legally it is created by the carrier. In practice it's created by the shipper and ok'd by the driver. But it is a legal document, and as such it's better to have signatures on it so either party that has issues has recourse.
If the shipper doesn't want the driver to "mark up" their bol then they can wait while the driver fills out a bol with the information he requires.

 

I had 3 stampers made. I mark up BOL's as I feel necessary.

 

The shippers document is the shipper. The shipper legally can’t provide a bol because they are not a carrier, this all goes back to maritime law and custody of the product by the shipper to the carrier. One thing that I will say is BOL is needed to make a cargo claim, we’ve had a couple companies claim we moved their product and filed false cargo claims against my company, no bol ever was produced to prove we moved the load so the insurance told them to stick it.

 

BOL also gives you the legal authority to have said cargo in your trailer. Without it you can be charged.

 

Usually I agree with you 100% but not in this case. the carrier is required to provide a BOL for a shipper, however these days in almost all cases shippers prepare the BOL for the drivers.

 

Yes you are required to have an accurate accounting of what is on the truck.