Moving paperwork

    The Moving Company Bill of Lading

    The Bill of Lading (BOL) is the contract and the receipt for a move. It says what was moved, what the customer agreed to pay and how their belongings are protected. Here's what it covers, when it's signed, and whether you still need a BOL printer.

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    Updated 2026-11-05 · By the MoveitPro team

    What is a Bill of Lading for a move?

    It is the moving company's contract with the customer and their receipt for the goods. For interstate household goods moves, federal rules (49 CFR 375.505) require the mover to issue one, and it records the parties, the dates, the charges, the valuation coverage the customer chose and how payment is made. The customer signs it at pickup and again at delivery.

    What a household goods Bill of Lading includes

    For interstate moves the federal rule lists what the BOL must contain. In plain terms, it covers:

    • The mover's name, address and USDOT number, plus any other carrier handling the move.
    • The customer's name and the origin and destination addresses.
    • The agreed pickup dates and delivery dates or periods.
    • The charges: the estimate type (binding or non-binding) and the services and amounts.
    • The valuation (liability) coverage the customer chose, and its cost.
    • The method of payment, and any amount owed at delivery.
    • The inventory or a reference to it, attached to the BOL.
    • Signatures from the customer and the mover.

    Local moves follow state rules, which vary. Check your state's moving regulator for what your local BOL must include.

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    When the Bill of Lading is signed

    1. 1

      Before loading

      The customer reviews the order, the charges and the valuation coverage, and signs. This is where the coverage choice is recorded.

    2. 2

      During the move

      Crew time, added services (an extra flight of stairs, a long carry, materials) and any change orders are added as they happen.

    3. 3

      At delivery

      The customer checks the inventory, notes any damage or missing items, pays what's owed and signs for delivery.

    4. 4

      After the move

      The customer gets a copy. For interstate moves, they have nine months from delivery to file a damage claim (49 CFR 370).

    Do movers still need a BOL printer?

    Not usually. A paper BOL needs a printer in the truck, carbon copies, someone to type it up afterwards and a filing cabinet. A digital BOL is signed on a phone or tablet, timestamps every signature and line item, attaches photos, and emails the customer a copy before the crew leaves.

    Some customers still want paper, and some jobs need a printed copy on site. A digital BOL can be printed or saved as a PDF at any time, so the printer becomes optional instead of required.

    Paper BOLDigital BOL
    SignaturesInk, on site onlyOn the crew's device, or by link when the customer isn't there
    ChargesHandwritten, retyped laterCalculated from crew time and line items as they happen
    Photos and damage notesSeparate, if at allAttached to the item and the BOL
    Customer copyCarbon copyEmailed instantly; printable PDF
    PaymentSeparate card terminalTaken on the BOL
    After the moveOffice types it into the systemAlready in the system for billing and payroll

    Valuation on the BOL

    For interstate household goods moves, movers must offer two levels of liability. Released Value Protection is included at no extra charge but limits the mover's liability to 60 cents per pound per article. Full Value Protection makes the mover liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods, up to the declared value, and costs more. The customer's choice is recorded on the BOL.

    MoveitPro+

    The digital Bill of Lading in MoveitPro+

    Crews run the BOL in the MoveitPro+ mobile app: time, charges, photos, signatures and payment, all on the job record the office already has.

    • Customer signatures on the crew's phone or tablet, or by a secure link sent to the customer.
    • Crew time and added charges priced as the move happens.
    • Photos attached to the job.
    • Payment taken right on the BOL.
    • Changes after the customer signs go through an office edit with a reason, so the signed record stays trustworthy.
    • Printable and emailable copies whenever they're needed.
    Bill of Lading software

    Frequently asked questions

    For interstate household goods moves, yes: federal rules require the mover to issue one. Many states also require a written contract or BOL for local moves; the rules vary by state.

    The customer (shipper) and the mover. The customer signs before loading to agree to the terms and coverage, and again at delivery to acknowledge receipt of their goods.

    Yes. Digital BOLs with electronic signatures are widely used by moving companies. Make sure your system records who signed, when, and exactly what they agreed to.

    The estimate is the price quote before the move. The Bill of Lading is the contract and receipt for the move itself, including the final charges, coverage and signatures.

    Movers who still print usually carry a portable printer in the truck. Most companies have moved to digital BOLs signed on a device, and print or email a PDF only when a customer asks.

    Keep reading

    Bill of Lading softwareMoving company formsMoving industry glossaryMobile crew appClaims softwarePayment software
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