Lorry Receipt (LR / Bilty): Format, Number, Meaning
What a lorry receipt (LR/bilty) is, who issues the LR number, the copies and details it carries, how it differs from a challan, plus Excel/Word formats.
A lorry receipt (LR), also called a bilty or consignment note, is the document a transporter issues when goods are handed over for carriage. It acknowledges the consignment, carries an LR number for tracking, and states the consignor, consignee, goods and freight terms.
'LR', 'bilty', 'GR' and 'consignment note' are the same document under different names — and the number on it is how a whole consignment gets tracked to delivery.
Lorry Receipt (LR / Bilty): Format, Number, Meaning
"LR", "bilty", "GR", "builty", "consignment note" — five names, one document. When goods are handed to a transporter to carry, the transporter issues a lorry receipt: proof they have taken the consignment, the terms of carriage, and a number by which that consignment is tracked until it is delivered. For anyone moving goods across India, it is the single most important piece of paper in the journey.
What a lorry receipt (LR) is — and its many names
A lorry receipt is the document a goods transport operator issues to the sender when it accepts a consignment for carriage. LR is short for Lorry Receipt; bilty is the common name across North India; consignment note and goods receipt (GR) mean the same thing. It does three jobs at once: it acknowledges that the transporter received the goods, it sets out the terms of carriage including how freight will be paid, and it gives the consignment a reference — the LR number — that follows it to delivery.
What an LR number is and who issues it
The transporter — not the sender — issues the lorry receipt and its number, at the moment they take the goods. That LR number is the transporter's reference for the consignment: it is how the trip is tracked, how the delivery is matched at the other end, and how the consignee asks "where is my consignment?". Copies of the LR usually go to the consignor, the consignee and the transporter, with one travelling alongside the goods.
What a lorry receipt contains
A complete lorry receipt carries:
- The LR number and date.
- The consignor and consignee, with their locations.
- The origin and destination.
- A description of the goods, with quantity and weight.
- The freight basis — paid, to-pay, or to-be-billed.
- Vehicle and driver details.
Lorry receipt vs delivery challan vs invoice
These three often travel together but do different jobs. A delivery challan is the sender's document explaining why goods are moving when there is no sale yet. A lorry receipt is the transporter's document acknowledging they have received those goods to carry. An invoice is the record of the eventual sale. On a single dispatch you can see all three — a challan from the consignor, an LR from the transporter, and later an invoice for the sale.
Formats and bilty-maker apps — and what they leave out
Lorry receipt formats in Excel and Word, and standalone bilty-maker apps, will all produce a clean LR. What they do not do is close the loop with the person waiting for the goods. The bilty gets made, but the consignee still has to be told the LR number, and still has no easy way to see that their consignment is actually on the way.
Download a free lorry receipt (bilty) format: Excel · Word · PDF.
The digital bilty: handling it on WhatsApp
Most consignees already live on WhatsApp, so that is where the bilty belongs. TarkApp handles transport (bilty) documents as part of the order-to-delivery flow and forwards the bilty to the buyer on WhatsApp, so the consignee has the document the moment the goods move — and can see the delivery is on its way without a separate tracking app. When the goods arrive, the stop is closed with a delivery photo or a one-time PIN from the buyer, matched back to the order.
See how the bilty reaches your buyer on WhatsApp, automaticallyHow TarkApp compares
| Step | Manual | With TarkApp |
|---|---|---|
| Making the bilty | Fill a Word/Excel template or a bilty-maker app for each consignment | Handles bilty (transport) documents as part of the order-to-delivery flow |
| Telling the buyer | Call or message the LR number separately | Forwards the bilty to the buyer on WhatsApp automatically |
| Tracking | Buyer chases status by phone | Buyer sees the consignment is on the way in the chat they already use |
| Proof at delivery | Signed LR copy returns days later | Delivery confirmed with a photo or buyer OTP against the order |
Frequently asked
What is the full form of LR, and is it the same as a bilty?
LR stands for Lorry Receipt. Bilty is the common Hindi-belt name for the same document, also called a consignment note or goods receipt (GR). Whatever it is called, it is the receipt a transporter issues for goods handed over to be carried.
Who issues the lorry receipt and the LR number?
The transporter or carrier issues it when they take the goods. The LR number is their reference for that consignment — used to track it and to match it at delivery. Copies typically go to the consignor, the consignee and the transporter.
What is the difference between a lorry receipt and a delivery challan?
A delivery challan is the sender's document for why goods are moving; a lorry receipt is the transporter's document acknowledging they have received those goods to carry. On a single dispatch you can have both — a challan from the consignor and an LR from the transporter.