Please help: Unfamiliar with BOL Terms

handling unit may refer to either pallets, crates etc or how to load and unload it. package may refer to how is the item to be shipped. Alot of these terms aren't really important to the driver. Alot of companies print on their BOL's how to ship and what quantity etc so their loaders don't have to have a bunch of papers, and the consignee can see that the shipper shipped the items the way that they wanted it shipped. In other words, it's mostly internal stuff and language between shipper and consignee. If the BOL says crate for handling unit and they put it on the floor you know something is wrong.

 

Thanks everyone for explaining all of this. So, let me ask a follow question - what information DO i need to know for a given load. Here is what I have
Pick up/Stop/Drop off address/contact
Cargo weight, type, pallets
BOL #

What else? I'm sure I'm missing something...

 

thats the main bit of it, if its a reefer then the temp also
Also there could be special instructions given by the shipper or by your company, if its a high value load might have to drive a minimum miles ect, our high value loads we must drive 200 miles straight without stopping.

 

phone numbers, directions even if you have a gps, is it haz mat, how the load is loaded, do you need any type of load securement, load locks, straps, boards whatever, if we were to type everything you have to learn to do every trip this thread would have a thousand pages. Not trying to be a dork about it, just relax and go with the flo,,,, this stuff comes with experience, and after doing it for 20 years, you'll be able to recite steps in your sleep. lol

 

normally the load locks and stuff the shipper will tell you not the bol since you would get the bol normally after your loaded and ready to go.