Documentation
Delivery Order
A document issued by the carrier or their agent instructing the terminal or depot to release a specific consignment to a named party once all charges and documentation requirements are satisfied.
In depth
The delivery order is the instrument that actually gets the cargo out of the terminal. It is issued after the consignee has satisfied the release conditions — surrendering an original bill of lading or receiving a telex release, settling outstanding charges, and completing customs clearance. Terminals will not hand over cargo without it. Because it sits at the end of a chain of prerequisites, a delivery order held up by one missing item can leave a container accruing demurrage while every other condition is met.
Key points
- Instructs the terminal or depot to release the cargo
- Issued only once charges, documents, and customs are cleared
- The final step before physical collection
- One outstanding prerequisite blocks release and accrues demurrage