A freight delivery checklist for Sydney businesses

Confirm the site details before booking a vehicle

The postcode is only the starting point for delivery planning. A warehouse with a loading dock, a shop on a busy street and a residential address can need different arrangements. Describe the actual receiving location when requesting your freight quote.

• Full address, unit number and the correct vehicle entrance.
• On-site contact and a phone number for delivery coordination.
• Receiving windows and any appointment or booking reference required by the site.
• Vehicle height, length or weight restrictions known to the receiver.
• Access instructions for gates, loading bays and shared driveways.
• Whether the delivery is to a commercial or residential property.

These are the receiver’s delivery arrangements, not WSLogistics office hours. We arrange customer visits across Sydney; our Lidcombe office does not receive customer visits.

Plan how the goods will leave the truck

Tell us whether suitable unloading equipment and staff will be available. If there is no forklift or loading dock, request an assessment of the available delivery options before the transport is booked.

Provide each package’s dimensions and weight, especially for long, heavy or awkward items. A tail-lift is not suitable for every load or location. Confirm any equipment limits and site requirements with the transport provider.

State where you expect the goods to be placed. Kerbside delivery, unloading into a receiving area, carrying goods upstairs and unpacking are different tasks. Ask for the agreed scope in writing rather than assuming they are included.

For containers, plan unloading and empty return

If a full container is part of the delivery plan, discuss the method of delivery, space required and time available to unload. Confirm who arranges the empty return and where it must go.

Carrier free time and container-related charges depend on the applicable terms. Demurrage commonly relates to time inside the terminal, while detention commonly relates to equipment outside it; some arrangements combine the periods. Storage can be separate. Read the carrier’s actual conditions rather than relying on the label alone. Maersk’s terms illustrate these distinctions; they do not establish the terms for your shipment.

• Ask for the relevant collection and return deadlines.
• Confirm how days are counted and whether different charges run at the same time.
• Raise any unloading or return problem as soon as it becomes known.

Prepare a receiving record

Have the order details and expected package count available when the goods arrive. Check what is received against the delivery paperwork and record visible damage or shortages accurately. Take photos where appropriate and notify the relevant parties promptly.

Keep delivery paperwork, photos and correspondence together with the shipment reference. If a discrepancy arises, ask about the applicable reporting process and time limits under your transport or insurance arrangements.

For a quotation, combine this checklist with your packed cargo details. Learn more about WSLogistics services for Sydney businesses and planning delivery milestones.