No bill of lading
No bill of lading means the driver wants the car without a receipt. Do not release it. Federal law requires a covered carrier to issue a receipt. A text message does not replace that paper or the condition notes.
Key facts
- What the receipt must list
- Consignor, consignee, origin, destination, and a description of the freight
- Source: ecfr.gov
The sources are listed on this page.
The bill of lading is the carrier's receipt. Federal law requires a carrier subject to that statute to issue one, and it says that failing to issue the receipt does not erase liability. You still should not hand over the car. Without the paper you have no signed condition, no VIN match, and no name to put on a claim.
What the driver should hand you
49 CFR 373.101 requires the consignor, the consignee, the origin, the destination, a description of the freight, and the weight if the rate depends on it. Also ask for the VIN, the price, and the condition notes. Those extras are how you match the car. They are not on that short federal list. Check the VIN against the dashboard, mark damage, and keep your copy. If the driver says the office will email it later, wait for the email or refuse the pickup. See bill of lading.
Why the pressure is the point
A missing receipt plus a cash demand, or plus a carrier name you cannot find, is a reason to keep the keys. Call the company that booked the order. RideShipper cannot create the receipt after the car is gone. The carrier at the curb is the one who has to write it.