What Is a Delivery Manifest? A Practical Guide for Businesses
A delivery manifest is a list of the consignments or items assigned to a movement. It helps the sender, courier and receiving team check what should be collected and where it should go.
What to put on the manifest
- A unique job or consignment reference.
- Collection and delivery addresses, including postcodes.
- Sender and recipient contact details.
- An accurate description and count of packages or pallets.
- Packed dimensions and weights where needed for planning.
- Delivery references, receiving hours and any agreed time slot.
- Handling instructions and arrangements for missing or damaged items.
Use clear item descriptions that the collection and receiving teams can recognise. Avoid putting unnecessary personal or sensitive information on paperwork that travels with the load.
Keep the different documents clear
The manifest describes what is expected on the journey. A delivery note normally accompanies an individual delivery, while proof of delivery records the completed handover. The same system may combine these functions, but an item appearing on a manifest does not prove it was delivered.
If you need signed paperwork, photographs or an electronic handover record, agree that requirement with the courier before dispatch.
Check the load at collection
Match the physical package count to the manifest before the driver leaves. Use labels that correspond with the document and keep delivery addresses consistent with the booking. Record a discrepancy instead of letting an incorrect count travel through the process.
If an item is added after the booking, update both the manifest and the courier. Additional weight, volume or an extra destination can affect the vehicle and price.
Manage changes during the journey
Keep one current version of the manifest and identify who can authorise changes. A revised address should be confirmed through the agreed booking contact, not left as an unexplained note on a package.
For multiple deliveries, group packages by destination and make the sequence clear. Confirm whether the booked service allows additional stops and what happens if a recipient is unavailable.
Close the job with a handover record
At delivery, reconcile the items received with the manifest and record any shortage or visible damage. Keep the manifest, booking reference and proof of delivery together so the business can answer later queries.
For example, a manifest listing three cartons and one pallet should allow the receiving team to identify all four units. A signature without a clear item record may make a shortage harder to resolve.
Prepare a courier booking
BHA can assess the vehicle and timing when you provide item count, dimensions, weights and both postcodes. Tell us about any required paperwork before collection.
Request a courier quote or read about our pallet delivery service. Sending IT equipment? See our electronics preparation guide.