The digital Bill of Lading guide for movers.

What is a Bill of Lading in a move?

The Bill of Lading is the contract and receipt for a move. It records who is moving what, from where to where, on what terms, and confirms the customer handed over and later received their belongings. For interstate household goods moves in the US, federal rules require movers to issue one. Many states have their own requirements for local moves, so check the rules where you operate.

What to include

• Your company name, address and any required license or registration numbers
• Customer name, contact details, and pickup and delivery addresses
• Move date, agreed delivery window and the type of estimate
• Charges, payment terms and any deposit already paid
• The valuation or liability option the customer chose
• Pickup and delivery signatures with the date and time

Electronic signatures in the field

In the US, the federal ESIGN Act and state laws based on the UETA generally give electronic signatures the same legal weight as ink, as long as the signer intends to sign and the record is kept accurately. In practice that means:

• Show the full document before asking for a signature.
• Capture a signature at pickup and again at delivery, each with a timestamp.
• Lock the record after signing so it can't be edited later.
• Give the customer a copy they can keep.

Record keeping

Keep signed documents attached to the job they belong to, so anyone in the office can find them in seconds. Store them securely with access limited to your team, and keep them for as long as your local and federal rules require.

Common mistakes

• Signing on a blank or partly filled form
• Collecting only one signature and skipping delivery
• Keeping paperwork in a truck cab or a personal phone gallery
• Charges on the document that don't match the accepted quote

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the regulations that apply to your company and routes.