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What is a Delivery Receipt and Who Issues It
A delivery receipt is considered one of the most important conditions for international shipping, as it is one of the essential documents required at the end of the shipping cycle. In ideal shipping cycles, the delivery receipt is referred to as the peak of the cycle, as the delivery of the shipment at the destination cannot be completed without it. The issuance of a delivery receipt indicates that the shipping cycle for that shipment has reached its end. Once the delivery receipt is issued, the bill of lading can be considered discharged and duly completed, and it can also be regarded as the conclusion of the contract between the carrier and the consignee regarding that shipment.
Definition of a Delivery Receipt:
A delivery receipt is defined as a legal document used by the sender of goods from the shipping party, authorizing another party at the receiving end to release and receive the goods. Delivery receipts are usually issued only after the consignee named in the delivery receipt presents the duly authorized bill of lading (when required) and pays any outstanding fees to the carrier or agent.
Who Issues the Delivery Receipt:
The delivery receipt document is issued by the shipping agent, carrier, freight forwarder, or exporter who is responsible for sending the goods from the shipping party or country. Without a delivery receipt, the import shipment cannot be released, even if it has cleared customs. This means that the consignee must arrange for customs clearance of the goods in the destination country or receiving location.
Function of the Delivery Receipt:
The delivery receipt serves several functions, which can be summarized as follows:
- It acts as a list of items or goods that will be sent to the buyer or recipient at the receiving end.
- It contains the official purchase information sent from the seller or sender to the buyer or recipient.
- It serves as official proof that the goods have arrived at the consignee’s location.
Therefore, it is essential to issue a valid delivery receipt for a set of shipping activities.
Components of the Delivery Receipt:
The delivery receipt contains several pieces of information, which are usually modified according to the needs of the company. Here are the components included in a delivery receipt:
- Sender’s information, or the company performing the shipment, or the carrier.
- The party to whom the shipment will be delivered.
- The value of the goods shipped, as stated in the invoice for the purchase of those goods.
- A detailed description of the goods and quantities of each within the shipment.
- Bill of lading number.
- Container number containing the shipment.
- Name of the vessel if transported by sea, or aircraft details if shipped by air.
- The port from which the shipment was dispatched.
- The destination port or airport for the shipment.
- Any additional information, if available.
- Shipping marks, if applicable.
- Recipient/buyer’s signature.
Additionally, the delivery receipt must consist of three main copies:
The first copy is a white paper
The white copy should be returned to the sender and used as an attachment for invoicing. This paper serves as proof that all goods have been delivered to the recipient.
The second copy is a red paper
The red copy is given to the recipient and must be retained as proof that the goods have been received in good condition.
The third copy is a yellow paper
The yellow copy serves as a transaction report that the company must keep as an archive.
