A dock receipt is a written document proving that a shipping company delivered goods to a destination dock. It’s prepared by the shipper and signed by the carrier upon receipt of a shipment.
The receipt includes shipment details such as descriptions of goods, vessel or vehicle information, and details for all parties involved: the shipper, carrier, forwarding party, and final recipient. Each of these parties receives a copy of the receipt at each step of the delivery process. The dock receipt also transfers accountability of the shipment from one party to the next until it reaches its final destination.
If a shipment gets damaged in transit, a dock receipt is crucial for identifying where the damage occurred and requesting reimbursement. The receipt also notes if a shipment has special needs, such as climate-controlled storage or accommodations for fragile contents and hazardous materials.
Table of Contents
Who Uses a Dock Receipt?
- Freight companies;
- Logistics companies;
- Port officers;
- Shipping companies;
- Transportation companies; and
- Warehouses.
Are Dock Services Subject to Sales Taxes?
Dock services are subject to state sales taxes in the following states:
- Delaware (gross receipts tax), Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
What to Include
- Consignee name, address, phone number;
- Consignee signature;
- Damages to the shipment (broken seals, damaged crates, etc.);
- Delivery date and time;
- Description of delivered items (numbers & marks, description of goods, weights, measurements, quantities);
- Document/receipt number;
- Export references;
- Exporter name, address, phone number;
- Forwarding agent name, address, and phone number;
- Notice of hazardous goods (if applicable);
- Notify parties’ names, addresses, and phone numbers;
- Point of discharge;
- Point of origin;
- Vessel information.