Shipping Document OCR

Extract Data from Bills of Lading

Upload a BOL PDF. Get structured data in seconds. No API keys, no templates, no developers required.

10 Free Pages
Works with Any Carrier
CSV & Excel Export

The Cost of Manual BOL Processing

80%

of logistics documents are still processed manually

McKinsey

$135

average cost per freight claim due to BOL data entry errors

10+

hours per week lost to manual data entry across systems

Logistics Tech Index

Fields We Extract

CapyParse reads every field on your bill of lading and outputs structured, export-ready data.

Shipment Identity

  • BOL number
  • PRO number
  • PO references

Parties

  • Shipper name & address
  • Consignee name & address
  • Notify party
  • Carrier name & SCAC code

Routing

  • Port of loading & discharge
  • Vessel name & voyage number
  • Container & seal numbers

Cargo

  • Commodity description
  • Weight (gross/net), dimensions
  • Piece count, package type
  • Freight class, NMFC & HS codes
  • Hazmat indicators

Charges

  • Freight terms (prepaid/collect)
  • Freight charges
  • Accessorial charges

Logistics

  • Pickup & delivery dates
  • Trailer number
  • Special instructions
  • Signatures

How It Works

Step 1

Upload

Upload your bill of lading PDF — scanned, digital, or photographed.

Step 2

AI Extracts

AI reads every field, flags low-confidence data for review.

Step 3

Download

Download structured data as CSV or Excel, ready for your TMS.

Supported Bill of Lading Types

CapyParse's AI handles every major BOL format across all modes of transport.

Ocean BOL

Standard ocean bills of lading for international sea freight, including carrier and NVOCC-issued BOLs.

Air Waybill

IATA air waybills for air cargo shipments, including house and master AWBs.

Inland / Domestic BOL

US domestic BOLs for ground freight, including LTL and FTL shipments.

Straight BOL

Non-negotiable BOLs where goods are consigned directly to a named party.

Order BOL

Negotiable BOLs that can be transferred by endorsement, used in trade finance.

Through BOL

BOLs covering multi-modal transport from origin to final destination across carriers.

House BOL

Issued by freight forwarders to individual shippers for consolidated shipments.

Master BOL

Issued by the carrier to the forwarder, covering the entire consolidated shipment.

Why CapyParse vs. Alternatives

FeatureCapyParseAPI ToolsVeryfi, MindeeTemplate ToolsParseurManual Entry
Self-serve UI
Works on new layouts
Confidence scoringLimited
Built-in review queueBuild your own
Handwriting supportVaries
Starting price$29/mo~$0.10/doc$39/mo$35K+/yr FTE
Developer required

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bill of lading OCR?

Bill of lading OCR uses artificial intelligence to automatically extract structured data from BOL documents. Instead of manually typing BOL numbers, shipper details, cargo descriptions, and routing information into a spreadsheet or TMS, OCR reads the PDF and outputs structured data in seconds.

What fields can CapyParse extract from a bill of lading?

CapyParse extracts all standard BOL fields including BOL/PRO numbers, PO references, shipper and consignee details, carrier and SCAC codes, vessel and voyage information, ports of loading and discharge, container and seal numbers, commodity descriptions, NMFC codes, freight class, HS/tariff codes, weights, dimensions, piece counts, freight charges, hazmat indicators, pickup and delivery dates, and more. It works with any BOL format from any carrier.

Does it work with scanned or photographed BOLs?

Yes. CapyParse includes built-in OCR that handles scanned documents, photos taken at loading docks, and digital PDFs. The AI understands document structure regardless of image quality, though higher-quality scans produce more accurate results.

Can CapyParse read handwritten annotations on BOLs?

Yes. The AI can read handwritten notes, annotations, and corrections on bills of lading. Confidence scoring flags uncertain fields for human review, so you can verify handwritten data before it enters your system.

What types of bills of lading are supported?

CapyParse supports ocean bills of lading, air waybills, inland/domestic BOLs, straight BOLs, order BOLs, through BOLs, and house/master BOLs. The AI adapts to any carrier format without requiring templates or pre-configuration.

How accurate is the extraction?

CapyParse uses AI-powered extraction with confidence scoring on every field. High-confidence fields are extracted automatically, while low-confidence fields are flagged for human review in the built-in review queue. This approach prevents silent errors that are common with fully automated tools.

Start Extracting BOL Data — Free

Upload your first bill of lading and see structured data in seconds. 10 pages free, no credit card required.

Try It Free