Definition
An instruction authorizing the terminal or warehouse to release cargo to the named party.
A delivery order is issued once the consignee has surrendered the bill of lading (or satisfied a waybill release) and settled charges. It instructs the party holding the goods — terminal, depot, or warehouse — to hand them over to the bearer or named recipient.
The D/O bridges the gap between document surrender and physical pickup, and is usually required before a trucker can collect the container. Without it, even a customs-cleared shipment cannot leave the terminal.
Related terms
Arrival Notice
The carrier’s or forwarder’s notification that a shipment has arrived and is ready for clearance and collection.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
The carrier’s document that acts as a receipt for cargo, a contract of carriage, and a document of title.
Sea Waybill (SWB)
A non-negotiable ocean transport document that lets cargo be released without surrendering an original B/L.
Customs Clearance
The process of getting goods released by customs through declaration, document checks, and duty payment.
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