VICs BOL and NMFC

VICs BOL

For Less than Truckload (LTL) or Truckload (TL) Domestic Prepaid & Freight Collect Shipments.

VICS BOL is a standardized bill of lading form created by the VICS (Voluntary Inter-Industry Commerce Standards) and is primarily used by general merchandise retail industry.

A VICs Bill of Lading is required for all domestic LTL or TL shipments.
A Bill of Lading is not required for domestic parcel shipments.

Please see here for an blank, editable BOL for your convenience.

The following information must be legible and included on the carrier’s Bill of Lading:

• Complete Shipper Address
• Complete Consignee/Receiver Address (URBN Facility identified on Purchase Order)
• Complete “Bill To” Address (For Collect & 3rd Party Billing)
• Complete listing of Purchase Order Numbers
• URBN Brand (Anthropologie, Urban, Terrain.) and Channel (Direct, Retail, Wholesale Made-to-Order)
• Number of cartons per Purchase Order (PO)
• Total number of cartons & total number of pallets / handling units
• Freight terms – should read “prepaid”
• Must include the NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification number)
  • To learn more about the NMFCs, see below.

IMPORTANT: A Bill of Lading that does not list carton count as the number of units will result in a chargeback. Pallet counts listed as units are not acceptable.

NMFC

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) guide is a list of all items, in theory, that could possibly be transported by a common carrier.  The list of items then has a class associated with each item.  The class is used by the common carrier of the goods to determine the rate of the shipment (along with distance and weight).  If you don’t know the shipment classification of your shipment, you can call your carrier, with the following information:

• Description of items
• How items are packaged
• Density of items – this is calculated by comparing the weights of an item with the space it takes up (pounds/cubic feet)
• Whether the item is new or used

How can shippers access the same NMFC classes that the carriers use?
They can purchase copies of the NMFC guide, which is sold through the NMFTA (703) 838-1810.

How can shippers contact the NMFC if they have questions on classes?
Call the NMFC directly at (703) 838-1810.