Bill of lading requirements in Canada

Which rules apply to your load

Manitoba's government explains it clearly. The federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act covers trucking that leaves a province. Under this Act, the conditions of carriage are set by the laws of the province where the move starts. Almost all provinces and territories regulate them.

So in most cases, look at the rules of the province where the freight is picked up.

What provinces require

This is a starting point, not a full list. Read the current regulation for your province.

Industry lawyers say the consequences differ by province. Trucknews reported that Alberta and Ontario don't require a properly issued bill of lading to apply the liability limit. In BC and Saskatchewan, the opposite is true. New Brunswick and other provinces have their own regulations as well.

Details for Quebec

Quebec's regulation is the most specific. It applies to contracts for the paid transport of goods. Exceptions include bulk materials and a vehicle reserved for one shipper only. Contracts made outside Quebec that follow the rules of the place of origin are also excluded. It also requires that:

• the operator, or an agent (a "mandatary" in the regulation), issues the bill of lading
• the form reproduces Schedule 1 on the front and Schedule 2 on the back
• each bill has its own number
• the carrier and the shipper, or their agents, sign it
• a signed copy goes to the shipper and the initial carrier
• the operator keeps a copy for 2 years

A waybill can't replace it. If you break the rule on issuing or keeping a bill of lading, the fine is $250 to $750. Our Quebec form reproduces both schedules and is ready to print double-sided.

What a bill of lading usually contains

In most provinces, expect to record:

• the bill number and date
• the shipper's and consignee's names and addresses
• the originating carrier and any connecting carriers
• the origin and destination
• the number of pieces, packaging, description and weight
• the declared value, if there is one
• whether freight is prepaid or collect
• any special services
• the conditions of carriage, including limits on liability
• signatures

Our bill of lading template page has a bilingual general form with these common fields, and a separate Quebec form. The general form doesn't include any province's conditions of carriage, so add yours.

Why it matters

Liability. The regulations often limit a carrier's liability to $2 per pound ($4.41 per kilogram), unless a higher value is declared. Whether you need a properly issued bill to rely on that limit depends on the province. Courts also look closely at the facts, so don't assume a limit will hold.

Getting paid. Under the federal Bills of Lading Act, a consignee named on a bill takes on the rights and liabilities of the contract. Carriers have used this to collect unpaid freight charges.

Tax. The bill of lading usually shows the destination, which sets the GST or HST rate. For the Canadian leg of an export, it can also carry the shipper's declaration that makes the move zero-rated.

What this guide doesn't cover

Dangerous goods need a shipping document under federal rules, and a standard bill of lading doesn't replace it. Household goods, livestock and bulk loads often have their own rules too.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current regulation, or ask a transportation lawyer if your limit of liability matters on a load.

Sources

• Manitoba: Bills of Lading and Uniform Conditions of Carriage
• Québec: Regulation respecting the requirements for bills of lading, T-12, r. 6
• Ontario: O. Reg. 643/05, Carriage of Goods
• Trucknews: Your bill of lading may not protect you
• Mondaq: Liability limits under the Alberta regulation, 2024 ABKB 637
• Bills of Lading Act (Canada)

This guide doesn't replace the law or professional advice, and rules change. Check the sources above before you rely on it.