Why generate Bills of Lading from a spreadsheet?
Most shipment data already lives in a spreadsheet, a TMS export or an ERP report. Retyping it into a BOL form for every shipment is slow, and it’s where container numbers, weights and consignee addresses get mistyped. Generating from the sheet keeps one source of truth, and the ISO 6346 check catches the most common container-number typos before the document goes out.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create multiple Bills of Lading at once?
Download the CSV template, add one row per shipment in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers, save it as CSV and upload it. The generator makes one print-ready Bill of Lading per row, which you print or save as a single PDF.
Is the Bill of Lading generator free?
Yes, for up to 3 Bills of Lading per batch, with no signup and no watermark. Any paid Bol.ai plan (including the 7-day free trial) generates up to 500 per batch.
Which spreadsheet columns does it understand?
The template’s column names, plus common alternatives such as “BOL number”, “POL”, “POD”, “seal” or “weight”. Columns it does not recognise are listed and ignored. Semicolon-separated CSV from European Excel works too.
Does it check container numbers?
Yes. Every container number is checked against its ISO 6346 check digit, and rows that fail are flagged on screen before you print, so a typo does not end up on the document.
Is a generated Bill of Lading legally binding?
The generator produces the standard fields of an ocean Bill of Lading for drafts, shipper’s instructions, internal records and training. A binding B/L is issued and signed by the carrier or its agent under its own terms of carriage.