Overview
Shipwell automatically generates a Bill of Lading (BOL) when a shipment is dispatched, and you can also generate one on demand from the shipment Actions panel. You can download or print the BOL directly from the shipment Documents panel.
How to Find and Download (Print) a BOL
Open the shipment from your Shipments Dashboard (search by reference number, BOL number, or PO number).
On the shipment detail page, click the Documents icon in the side panel (or navigate to the Documents tab).
Locate the document labeled BOL in the document list.
Click the BOL document to open it.
Use your browser's download or print function to save or print the BOL as a PDF.
When Is the BOL Available?
The BOL is auto-generated by Shipwell when the shipment is dispatched (i.e., when a carrier is confirmed and the shipment moves to Dispatched status).
If the shipment is in Draft, Quoting, Quoted, or Tendered status, the BOL has not yet been generated — it will become available once the shipment is dispatched.
For Hazmat shipments, the BOL automatically includes the required hazmat fields and declarations.
Generating or Regenerating a BOL Manually
In addition to automatic generation at dispatch, you can generate a BOL on demand from the shipment itself:
Open the shipment from your Shipments Dashboard.
Click the Actions icon in the shipment side panel.
Select Generate BOL (listed below Assign to Carrier / Request Bids / Tender options, next to Generate Rate Confirmation).
When the "BOL(s) have been generated" confirmation appears, open the Documents panel to preview and download the new BOL.
The generated BOL is built from the shipment's current stop and address data. If a BOL shows an out-of-date address (for example, the stop was corrected after the BOL was created), correct the stop on the shipment first and then use Generate BOL to create an updated document. If a carrier uploaded their own BOL, that document must be corrected by the carrier or replaced via Documents → Upload → BOL.
Cannot Find the BOL?
Shipment not yet dispatched: The BOL is only generated at dispatch. If the shipment is in a pre-dispatch status (Draft, Quoting, Quoted, Tendered, Carrier Confirmed), wait until it is dispatched.
No documents showing: Check your user permissions — you need Shipments view access to see documents. Contact your account administrator if the Documents tab is not visible.
Need to upload your own BOL: If you have a carrier-provided BOL or need to add a custom BOL, you can upload it via Documents → Upload → Select type: BOL. See Uploading and Deleting Documents on a Shipment for full instructions.
BOL Customization
Shipwell supports BOL customization (logo, fields, layout) at the company level. See the Digital Documents - BOL Customization article for details, or contact your Customer Success Manager.
Need Help?
If you cannot locate the BOL or are experiencing document access issues, contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or submit a ticket through the TMS Customer Support Portal.