What is a delivery order?

A delivery order (DO) is the document that authorizes a carrier, terminal, or warehouse to release cargo to the named consignee. In freight and import, the forwarder or agent issues it once the bill of lading is accounted for and charges are settled.

It acts as proof of transfer and shipping authorization: it ties the shipment's bill of lading, container, and consignee together and instructs who may take delivery of the goods. A delivery order is not an invoice, and it is distinct from a delivery note, which travels with the goods and records what was actually delivered.

What a delivery order must include

• Header: the issuing forwarder or agent, the document title "Delivery Order", and a unique DO number and date.

• References: bill of lading or AWB number, PO number, invoice number, and the job or booking reference.

• Parties: the shipper or consignor, the consignee and delivery address, and the party the cargo is released to (carrier, trucker, or warehouse).

• Logistics: delivery date and ETA, transport mode, container or vehicle number, vessel or flight, port of discharge, and place of delivery.

• Itemized list: description, part or serial number, quantity ordered, quantity delivered, and units.

• Instructions: special handling and any charges due on delivery.

• Signatures: an issuer signature block and a receiver signature or stamp as proof of receipt.

How to create a delivery order, step by step

1. Add the DO details: Give it a unique DO number and date, the job reference, transport mode, and the delivery date and ETA.

2. Enter who issues it: Add your forwarder or agent company and contact. This is the party authorizing the release.

3. Add consignor and consignee: Enter the shipper, then the consignee with the full delivery address and a contact.

4. Set the release-to party and references: Name the carrier, trucker, or warehouse the cargo is released to, and add the BL/AWB, PO, invoice, container, vessel, and place of delivery.

5. List the items: Add each line with description, part or serial number, quantity ordered, quantity delivered, and unit so the count can be checked.

6. Add instructions and sign: Enter special delivery instructions and any charges due, then the issuer and receiver blocks.

7. Check the live preview: Confirm the references, items, and signatures on the right, then download.

How to download your delivery order

1. Choose a format in the toolbar: Click Download PDF, Word, or Excel. PDF is best for the driver or dock, Word for your branding, Excel for the item counts.

2. Enter your email once: The first download asks for your email to unlock all formats. After that, every download on this device is instant.

3. Open in Google Docs or Google Sheets: Prefer Google? Download the Word file and open it in Google Docs, or the Excel file and open it in Google Sheets from your Drive.

4. Print or grab a blank template: Use Print to save as PDF, or download a blank PDF, Word, or Excel delivery order to fill in later.

5. Save a draft to reuse: Click Save draft to keep the delivery order in your browser, then load it next time and change only what differs.

Delivery order vs other documents

• Delivery note: Travels with the goods and records what was delivered. A delivery order instead authorizes the release of the cargo.

• Bill of lading: The carrier's receipt and contract of carriage. The DO references it. See the bill of lading generator.

• Commercial invoice: States the value of the goods for customs, not a release. Use the commercial invoice generator.

• Freight invoice: The bill for the forwarding services. Use the freight forwarder invoice generator.

Generate the delivery order from the shipment, not a blank form

The BL reference, container, consignee, and cargo already live on the shipment record. Retyping them into a delivery order wastes time and risks releasing against the wrong details. CargoEZ builds the DO from the shipment file.

• BL reference, container, and consignee pulled from the shipment, nothing re-keyed.

• One consistent set of references across the BL, invoice, and delivery order.

• Release, documents, and billing on one record from booking to delivery.