A delivery order is a document issued by a carrier to a party, usually the consignee, authorizing the release of goods that have been shipped. It is typically used in the context of international trade, when goods are shipped from one country to another.

Once the cargo arrives at the port of destination, it is typically moved to a customs bonded area where customs clearance procedures can be carried out. If the cargo is less than a full container load (LCL), it may be stored in a container freight station (CFS) warehouse. The import cargo will be under the custody of the CFS authorities, who act as the "custodian of cargo."

The custodian of cargo can be a private party, a semi-governmental organization, or a fully government-owned entity. They are responsible for holding the cargo in the bonded area until it is released to the party with the permission of Customs authorities and the carrier of the goods. The carrier is the shipping, freight forwarding, or transport company that carries the goods to the port of final destination.

Once the cargo has arrived at the final customs port of destination, the carrier issues a delivery order to the consignee (or their agent) after collecting any necessary charges. The importer or their customs broker then completes the import customs formalities by filing the necessary documents and, if applicable, undergoing cargo inspection procedures. Once these procedures are completed, the importer or their authorized agent approaches the custodian of cargo with the delivery order issued by the carrier to request the release of the cargo. The custodian of cargo verifies the proof of completion of import customs clearance procedures and the delivery order, and then releases the cargo to the importer.

In addition to the delivery order, the carrier will typically need to collect the original bill of lading issued by their counterpart
at the port of loading for the shipment, unless the document has been surrendered or released as a sea waybill. The bill of lading is an important document that serves as a receipt for the goods and proof of ownership. It is typically required for the release of the cargo to the importer.