Delivery order vs freight release: the freight release is the carrier's confirmation that freight is paid and the bill of lading surrendered; the delivery order tells a named trucker to collect the cargo and where to take it.
What is a Delivery Order (DO) in shipping?
A delivery order (DO, or D/O) is the instruction that lets an inland carrier collect import cargo. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey defines it as a document issued by the consignee or a customs broker as authority to release the cargo to the inland carrier. It usually names the trucker and identifies the shipment by bill of lading and container number, the pickup location and the delivery address.
Two meanings, depending on the country
- US practice: the consignee or its customs broker sends the DO to the trucker. The carrier's permission is a separate freight release to the terminal
- India and many other markets: the shipping line or its agent issues the DO to the consignee after local charges are paid and the bill of lading is surrendered. Maersk India, for example, processes DO requests through its online portal after charges are settled
What must be in place before pickup
A DO alone does not get a container out of a US terminal. The truckers' guide for New York and New Jersey lists the freight release, the container number and the bill of lading number for an import pickup, and says to make sure there are no freight, customs or demurrage holds first. In practice that means:
- Customs release: CBP has released the entry, filed by the broker
- Freight release: freight is paid and the original bill of lading surrendered, or a telex release or sea waybill used
- Terminal clearance: no holds, any demurrage paid, and a pickup appointment booked where the terminal requires one
On an NVOCC shipment the carrier releases the container to the NVOCC under the master bill, and the NVOCC releases it to the importer under the house bill. For LCL, the DO is presented at the CFS that unpacked the container.
Common mistakes
- Sending the DO late: the trucker cannot book a terminal appointment without it, and free time keeps running to the last free day
- A DO naming the wrong trucker, delivery address or container
- Assuming the DO means the container is released; check customs and freight release separately
The arrival notice comes before the DO. Our customs clearance coordination handles release and the delivery order, and our drayage service collects the container.
Related terms
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