Everything that moves on a train with BNSF starts with a set of instructions supplied by a customer. These 'instructions' can be referred to as a 'Shipping Instruction' or a 'Bill of Lading (BOL)'.

BNSF can receive your shipping instructions in two ways: by using the Shipping Instructions application or by sending us your data via EDI (electronic data interchange).

This application should be used whenever you have goods that need to be shipped, and you are not sending us your information via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange).

On the left you will find the main sections of the help content. They correlate with the main sections of the application. If you know which section of the application you would like help with, start by choosing that option on the left.If you are new to Shipping Instructions please explore each option on the left for a thorough understanding of the application.

If you are unable to find the information you need within this help documentation, please contact us by calling the number provided here.

• Contact (Name and Phone)
• Pay Method
• Commodity
• Load/Empty Status
• Commodity (STCC)
• Business Partners - Shipper & Consignee
• Origin & Destination
• Route

• Create Bill of Lading - This option is for creating a new Bill of Lading. If you select a pattern from the list and then click this button, you will create a Bill of Lading based on the selected pattern. If no patterns are selected when this button is clicked, you will create a Bill of Lading from scratch.
• New - This option is for creating a new pattern.
• Open - This option is for opening an existing pattern for editing. You must select a pattern before clicking 'Open'.
• Delete - This option is for removing an existing pattern. You must select a pattern before clicking 'Delete'.

When creating a pattern or Bill of Lading you will be presented with a Bill of Lading screen. This screen is organized by panels of related information that is needed for shipping something with BNSF. Each panel heading is listed underneath 'Complete a Shipping Instruction' on the left. Choosing one of these options will display detailed instructions for completing that panel.

While entering data to the Bill of Lading screen, you will have the ability to expand or collapse each panel for simpler navigation. This can be done by clicking on the plus (+) or minus (-) icon at the right end of the panel heading.

Below is a view of the Bill of Lading screen with each of the panels collapsed.

A transaction within the Shipping Instructions application is any instance of a submitted Bill of Lading. These transactions can be viewed by clicking on the 'Transactions' dropdown in the main toolbar at the top, and choosing the category you are interested in.

The transaction categories are listed below with their definition:

• All - All transactions submitted.
• Saved - Transactions saved for transmission at a later date and time.
• Processing - Transactions that have been received and are in process.
• Accepted - Transactions that have been received and processed without error.
• Accepted(Error) - Transactions that have been received and errors have occurred.
• Rejected - Transactions that have been received and were rejected.
• Advanced Search - Search for transactions based on a specific criteria.

On the main toolbar of the Shipping Instructions application you will find a 'Tools' option. This dropdown contains a set of tools that can be used as a quick reference when filling out a Shipping Instruction. The available tools are STCC search, Customer Search, and Station Search. Each tool is defined in detail below.

Search for and verify STCC Codes (Standard Transportation Commodity Code) by either the commodity description or number.

Below is a view of the STCC search panel.

Search for company names using name, location (City/ST) or CIF number.

Below is a view of the Customer Search panel.

Search and confirm rail station names and locations.

Below is a view of the Station Search panel.

• Bill of Lading – Also known as "BOL"; a shipping document which is both a receipt for property to be transported and a contract for delivery of goods by a carrier. It states the terms, conditions and liabilities under which property is accepted for transportation. The principal bills of lading are:
  1. Straight - a non-negotiable document. Surrender of the original is not required upon delivery of the freight unless necessary to identify consignee.
  2. Order - a negitiable document. Surrender of the original property endorsed is required by transportation lines upon delivery of the freight, in accordance with its terms.
  3. Clean - either a "Straight" or "Order" bill of lading in which the transportation company acknowledges receipt of the property without noting any exceptions as to shortage or damage to the property received.
  4. Exchange - a bill of lading given in exchange for another.
  5. Export - a bill of lading given to cover a shipment consigned to some foreign country.

• Care of – The party designated to physically receive the shipment.
• Collect – Freight bills are issued and collected by the destination linehaul carrier.
• Company-Material – Company Material per BNSF RR Agreement.
• Consignee - The party designed on the bill of lading as the entity entitled to receive delivery of the goods from the carrier.

• Destination Switch - A carrier that performs switching services at origin or destination between a customer and a linehaul carrier.

• Lading Quantity – The number of aricles in shipment.
• Linehaul Carrier – A carrier that receives or shares in the revenue rate on the waybill. A linehaul carrier must be shown in the route with a division of revenue.

• Notify Party – Person or party identified on the shipping instructions to be notified when the shipment is available at destination.

• Origin Switch - A carrier that performs switching services at origin or destination between a customer and a linehaul carrier.

• Patron Code – A ten digit account number that designates the party to receive the freight bill.
• Prepaid – Freight bills are issued and collected by the origin linehaul carrier.

• Rule 11 – The party to be billed by additional linehaul carriers per AAR Accounting Rule 11.

• Ship From – The party who physically loaded the shipment if different from shipper.
• Shipper – The party designated on the bill of lading as the entity entitled to originate shipment of the goods.
• Shipping Instruction - See 'Bill of Lading'.
• STCC (Commodity Code) – Standard Transportation Commodity Code consisting of 7-digit numerical reference to a commodity description.

• Third Party – The party responsible for payment of the linehaul charges.

This panel is used for updating/adding parties to the waybill with Business Partners. Shipper and Consignee are required parties and cannot be deleted.

• Shipper – The party designated on the bill of lading as the entity entitled to originate shipment of the goods.
• Consignee- The party designed on the bill of lading as the entity entitled to receive delivery of the goods from the carrier.
• Care of – The party designated to physically receive the shipment.
• Notify Party – Person or party identified on the shipping instructions to be notified when the shipment is available at destination.
• Rule 11 – The party to be billed by additional linehaul carriers per AAR Accounting Rule 11.
• Ship From – The party who physically loaded the shipment if different from shipper.
• Third Party – The party responsible for payment of the linehaul charges.

The Commodity Panel is for entering your STCC (Standard Transportation Commodity Code), Load/Empty status and package type.

• STCC (Commodity Code) – Standard Transportation Commodity Code consisting of 7-digit numerical reference to a commodity description.

The Commodity Profile Panel is where shippers can enter additional STTC information for multi commodity shipments.

• Commodity – Lading description
• Weight – Lading weight
• Lading Quantity – Number of aricles in shipment
• Package Code –Packaging used

Customs documentation can be entered such as Import License, Inbond Numbers and Tax Reason Code. The items required are dependent on the border and situation.

For more information on borders, click on the area of interest below:

• Canada
• Mexico
• Overseas

The equipment panel is for entering your equipment initial and number. You can also record seal numbers, dunnage numbers, and reference numbers. Adding additional equipment can be entered by clicking on Add.

• Estimated – Estimated weights
• Gross – Total weight consisting of lading, dunnage and equipment weight
• Net – Lading weight

Additional equipment for a single shipment can be entered on the Equipment Import popup. This information can be imported from a file or directly from a track list.

The Freeform Panel is used to allow additional information of a shipment that is not pertinent to the movement of the railcar. This information is not transmitted to BNSF but will show on the printed copy of the waybill.

This panel is for grain shippers to enter their authorization and DET information.

Hazardous Material commodity codes are entered in the Hazardous Materials section. This is information specific to the hazardous materials being shipped.

The Hazard Materials Details screen is for providing product specific information. This information should reflect the requirements in 49CFR.

The Hazardous Materials Canadian panel is where hazardous material handling information specific for shipments moving into or out of Canada should be entered.

The Protective Services panel is where you can alert BNSF about any operating instructions on refrigerated equipment.

The Rate Authority panel is for entering any Price Authority document references.

A Price Authority is a docment that contains a carrier(s) charges for transportation services. There are three basic types of documents:

• Quotes – A pricing document that rail price makers and customers use to reference to terms of their shipping agreement.
• Tariffs – A public price document that is public record on file with the STB and covers strictly regulated shipments.
• Patron Code – A ten digit account number that designates the party to receive the freight bill.

The Reference Number panel is for attaching any reference numbers that are needed for the shipment.

The Reject Equipment panel is where you can reject BNSF controlled equipment that has been delivered offline.

This section is for entering information specific to the route and reverse route.

• Linehaul Carrier – A carrier that receives or shares in the revenue rate on the waybill. A linehaul carrier must be shown in the route with a division of revenue.
• Origin/Destination Switch - A carrier that performs switching services at origin or destination between a customer and a linehaul carrier.

This panel is for entering basic shipment information.

• Collect – Freight bills are issued and collected by the destination linehaul carrier
• Company-Material – Company Material per BNSF RR Agreement
• Non-Revenue Empty – Empty Return, Non-Revenue
• Prepaid – Freight bills are issued and collected by the origin linehaul carrier

Special Handling instructions are for shipments that need to be handled differently from normal shipments.

Shipments that will need to stop along the route can list the stop information in Stop Offs.