Bol’s digital or printed copy ?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Mendoza Logistics, Jan 21, 2021.

  1. Mendoza Logistics

    Mendoza Logistics Bobtail Member

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    My question might be a no brainer but it’s really got me hung up . Do I need a printed bol when delivering a load or could I use a digital one the broker sends me ? Looking to book loads on the load board probably won’t have a printer around me at all times
     
    Flat Earth Trucker Thanks this.
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  3. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    No. I do not carry a printer with me.

    The rate con will have the pickup number, you give that to the shipper and they will give you the bill of lading that you take to the receiver. The receiver will then sign it stamp it or whatever and give it back to you. They will tell you if the load was clean or whether there was anything missing were overages. Always let the broker know immediately if the count is wrong.

    Then you use a phone app like Cam scanner and you scan a quick copy and send it to the broker immediately. Then put the copy that you have in your files at home.

    Once a shady broker wanted me to do a blind load and wanted me to print things out and I just flat out told them no thank you not interested. That is the only time anyone ever asked me to print anything.
     
  4. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Thats not shady, thats pretty normal in the scheme of things,

    For instance. weve got a customer who buys steel from a place in eastern pa to be delivered in tennesee. But it picks up in northern indiana. Pick up is for east pa at check in, they hand us bols, those get semt straight to dispatch, dispatch sends a bol for end customer.

    We're essentially hauling the load at 1.5x reasonable rate IN to TN instead of wasting everyones time hauling 2 loads at lower overall rates

    Some places are real picky about how blind the shipment is and some dont care if you use original paperwork but just deliver to the right place.


    Not saying that particular broker wasnt shady for another reason, but what you described is both industry normal and not shady at all
     
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  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Bill Of Lading (BOL) is what you have to produce, the shipping paper work comes from the broker, bill of laden is a legal document saying you accept the product and are responsible for it.

    Just had a driver dinged in Ohio because all she had was shipping papers but no bol. Her and I both think the ********* officer didn’t like her attitude of being bubbly and happy so he dinged her for every little thing he could find. She got worst from me, I had her read the definitions in her manual back to me, all four pages of it, we had a good laugh and then she went back to work.
     
  6. skallagrime

    skallagrime Road Train Member

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    Which is why you carry a few of the blank bols from a truck stop or have a printer in your cab with a bol template. But i may just be odd then
     
    86scotty and God prefers Diesels Thank this.
  7. Mendoza Logistics

    Mendoza Logistics Bobtail Member

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    Appreciate all the information guys ! All very helpful ! Have a great weekend everyone !
     
  8. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    Not odd. I carry about ten blank BOL's too. Lots of places in the open deck world where the shipper didn't even know he was supposed to supply one. No biggie my friend, I came prepared.
     
    86scotty Thanks this.
  9. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    Yep, it's 2021. If you are an owner operator booking your own loads you ought to have a printer in your truck, unless you run local and are at home/office everyday.

    It's cheap and simple and eventually trying to do everything digital will burn you.

    But, on the OP's question, no way you should ever leave a dock with product without actual paperwork on it, whether you produce it or them. By paperwork I mean paper made of paper.
     
    flood and God prefers Diesels Thank this.
  10. flood

    flood Road Train Member

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    what (in most cases) the agent is sending is the "rate com" NOT a BOL.... you'll get the BOL from the shipper...

    And yes it's a good idea to have a printer on the truck
     
    86scotty and God prefers Diesels Thank this.
  11. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    Not trying at all to be picky but it's rate con, with an N. I'm saying this so the OP will understand what it's short for, rate contract.
     
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