Before the coronavirus pandemic, few could have imagined that paper shipping documents would become a health hazard. They were merely an inconvenience for drivers and office clerks to handle as part of the payroll and billing process.
When social distancing became the norm, new technology quickly emerged to digitally exchange bills of lading (BOLs) and capture signatures for proof of delivery (POD) documents to keep drivers safe and for office staff working remotely.
Contactless transactions
Speeding the flow of POD documents had already been simplified with mobile apps that drivers use to capture images remotely. What changed during the COVID-19 pandemic is that more shippers no longer print BOLs but instead send digital documents to carriers before drivers arrive to pick up loads.
Carriers receive the electronic BOLs via email — typically as PDF attachments — or as direct feeds into their transportation management software using electronic data interchange (EDI), said Larry Kerr, president of EBE Technologies, which provides workflow-based systems for transportation companies.
When picking up a load, shippers that use electronic BOLs may still give drivers a paper copy to take with them during transit.
EBE Technologies has a new eBOL module for carriers to use with its SHIPS document management and workflow automation platform. When carriers receive an electronic BOL from shippers, the software sends it to drivers before they make a pickup.
