How to Note Damage on the Bill of Lading
This is general information, not legal advice.
The delivery bill of lading is the page most people sign when the car comes off the truck. What is written on it, and what is left blank, is part of the paperwork you will still have after the driver leaves.
What to write
- Use plain words for what you can see: the panel, and the mark (dent, scratch, crack, or scrape).
- Put the note on the delivery bill of lading, in the damage, exception, or remarks area if the form has one.
- If the form has no line for exceptions, write the note in a blank area on the same page you sign, and initial beside it.
- Keep the note short. Do not guess when the mark happened or who caused it.
- Ask for your copy, or photograph the signed pages, including the note.
Read the line above the signature
- Some forms say the vehicle was received in good condition, or that no exceptions were noted.
- If that sentence is on the form and you see damage, write the damage note on the form first, then sign.
- If the driver asks you to sign a second copy, check that the damage note is on that copy too, and photograph it.
A clean signature and a later claim
A clean bill of lading is one signed with no damage written on it. Signing a clean bill of lading makes it harder to show that the damage was present when the carrier delivered the vehicle. That is a record of what the form says. It is not a decision about who is responsible.
The $29 Evidence Pack is a ZIP of 10 printable PDFs. One of them is a BOL organizer: a checklist of pickup and delivery BOL copies to collect, with lines for damage noted on each BOL and whether the signature and date are legible.
Other guides
- Damage at delivery — Inspect before you sign, take photos and video, and write down the driver's name and truck number.
- Claim denied — Ask for the denial reason in writing, request the carrier insurance certificate, and use the FMCSA complaint route.
- Claim filing window — Check your contract, bill of lading, and the carrier claim terms for the filing window, and gather the documents before you file.