BOL, Pick List, Packing Slip, Loading Report: The Outbound Document Set
What each document is for, who reads it, and how the platform generates them all from the same outbound order.
An outbound shipment generates four to six documents. Each document has a different purpose and a different audience. The platform generates them on demand from the same source data, so the BOL and the packing slip and the pick list never disagree about what’s on the truck.
Pick list
For the warehouse-floor operator. /core/outbound/[id]/pick-list. Lists the assets in the order that minimizes walking: pallet → rack → position. Used while the order is being assembled. Not for external eyes.
Packing slip
For the recipient. /core/outbound/[id]/packing-slip. Lists the asset items in a buyer-friendly format: category, quantity, grade, total. Goes inside the box (literally — printed and packed) so the recipient knows what should be in the shipment when they unbox.
Bill of Lading (BOL)
For the carrier and for legal. /core/outbound/[id]/bol. The shipping contract: shipper, consignee, carrier, weight, freight class, terms (FOB, CIF, etc.), and the line items. Signed by the driver at pickup; the signed copy attaches back to the outbound order. The BOL template differs per outbound type (see document-templates article).
Loading report
For the operations record. /core/outbound/[id]/loading-report. Photos of the load, the seal numbers (if applicable), the truck registration. Attaches to the evidence bundle for the shipment. Used when a buyer reports damage and the question is "did the goods leave our dock undamaged."
Recycling certificate
For the recycling-type outbound. /core/outbound/[id]/recycling-certificate. Confirms the destination (a verified recycler with the right permits), the categories sent, the weights, and the chain-of-custody. The downstream recycler signs back — the certificate is incomplete until the destination acknowledges receipt.