Bill of lading
A bill of lading is the carrier's receipt and contract for the car. It names the shipper, the receiver, the origin, the destination, and the freight. At delivery, read it before you sign. It does not silently waive damage you can see.
Key facts
- Federal receipt
- Consignor, consignee, origin, destination, and a description of the freight
- Source: ecfr.gov
- If no paper is issued
- Carrier liability for actual loss is not erased by the missing receipt
- Source: govinfo.gov
The sources are listed on this page.
A bill of lading is the paper, or the electronic record, the carrier issues when it takes the car. Federal law says a carrier that is subject to this statute must issue a receipt or bill of lading, and that failing to issue one does not erase the carrier's liability for actual loss or injury. The regulation on what the receipt must contain is shorter than people expect: consignor, consignee, origin, destination, a description of the freight, and weight if the rate depends on it.
What to check on a car
For a car, also look for the VIN, the odometer if the company records it, the condition report, the price, and the names of the carrier and of the person who signed. Match the VIN to the car in front of you. If the driver will not give you this paper, do not release the car. A text message is not a substitute.
What a signature does not do
You can agree in writing to limit the carrier's liability to a declared value, and that value has to be reasonable under the statute. A signature on a condition diagram records the marks you saw. It is not, by itself, an agreement to a low dollar cap unless the cap is actually written and you agreed to it. Note new damage on the delivery copy before you sign. RideShipper does not write this document and does not decide a claim.