A lorry receipt is a document that proves you have handed goods to a haulage company for transport
When you send cargo by truck (called a lorry in the UK), the driver gives you a receipt as proof of handover. This receipt shows what you sent, when you sent it, who is transporting it, and where it is going. It is not a may provide that the goods will arrive safely — that is what insurance covers — but it is your record that the haulage company accepted responsibility for the load at a specific moment.
A lorry receipt serves two purposes. First, it is evidence for your own records: you can prove to your customer or your accountant that you shipped something on a particular date. Second, it protects you in a dispute. If goods go missing or arrive damaged, the receipt shows when the haulage company took possession and what condition the load was in when they took it.
Key Takeaways
- A lorry receipt is issued by the haulage company when the driver collects your goods, and you should keep it until the delivery is confirmed.
- The receipt records the date, time, weight or item count, and condition of the goods at handover, creating a record of what the carrier accepted.
- You should inspect the goods before the driver leaves and note any damage on the receipt itself — what is not noted at handover is assumed to have arrived in that condition.
- A lorry receipt is different from a bill of lading (used in international shipping) and different from proof of delivery (which comes after arrival).
What information appears on a lorry receipt
A standard lorry receipt includes the sender's name and address, the recipient's name and address, the haulage company's name and vehicle registration, the driver's name, and the date and time of collection. It also lists what is being transported — either by item count, weight, or both — and notes the condition of the goods when handed over.
The receipt may also show a reference number or job number that you can use to track the shipment with the haulage company. Some receipts include a signature line for the driver and a line for you to sign, confirming you have received a copy. If the goods are fragile or require special handling, that information should be noted on the receipt as well.
The condition section is critical. If you hand over a pallet of goods and the packaging is torn, or if a box is visibly dented, you should ask the driver to note this on the receipt before they leave. Once the driver departs, the haulage company will assume any damage noted on the receipt existed before they took possession, and any damage not noted will be assumed to have happened during transport — which may fall outside their liability.
How to request and receive a lorry receipt
When you book a haulage company to collect goods, ask whether they issue receipts as standard. Most professional haulage firms do, but smaller operators or informal arrangements may not. If a receipt is important to you — because you are shipping high-value items or because you need proof for accounting purposes — confirm this before the driver arrives.
When the driver collects the goods, they will usually fill out the receipt on a clipboard or tablet and print or email you a copy. You should receive this before or when ready after the vehicle leaves. If you do not receive a copy on the day, contact the haulage company within 24 hours and ask them to send it. Do not assume the receipt will arrive later — get it in writing while the details are fresh.
Keep your copy of the lorry receipt in a safe place, ideally with your other shipping records. If the goods are insured, your insurance provider may ask to see the receipt if you need to make a claim. If you are sending goods to a customer, you may also want to share the receipt with them so they know when to expect delivery.
What to do if goods are damaged or missing
If goods arrive damaged or do not arrive at all, the lorry receipt is your starting point for a claim. The receipt shows what condition the goods were in when the haulage company took possession. If damage is not noted on the receipt, the haulage company may argue that the damage happened before collection, which would be your responsibility, not theirs.
This is why inspecting goods before the driver leaves is so important. If you notice damage during collection, point it out to the driver and ask them to write it on the receipt. If you do not notice damage until after delivery, you will need to contact the haulage company within a set timeframe — usually 3 to 7 days, depending on their terms — and provide photos or other evidence of the damage.
When you contact the haulage company about a claim, have your lorry receipt ready. It will show the date of collection, the driver's name, and the vehicle registration. This information helps the company investigate what happened to your goods during transport. If you do not have a receipt, proving that the haulage company accepted the goods becomes much harder.
Lorry receipts and insurance claims
If you have insurance for goods in transit, the insurer will want to see your lorry receipt as part of any claim. The receipt proves that the goods were handed to a professional carrier on a specific date, which affects how the claim is assessed. Some insurance policies cover goods only if they are transported by a named haulage company or a company with certain standards — the receipt confirms who transported them.
The receipt also establishes a timeline. If goods go missing, the insurer needs to know when they were collected and when they should have arrived. The receipt provides the collection date and time, which is the starting point for investigating the loss. Without it, you may struggle to prove when the goods left your premises.
Lorry receipts versus other transport documents
A lorry receipt is sometimes confused with other documents used in shipping. A bill of lading is used in international shipping and maritime transport; it serves a similar purpose but is more formal and is often required by customs. A proof of delivery is issued by the haulage company after the goods arrive at their destination and are handed to the recipient; it confirms arrival, not handover.
For domestic road transport within the UK, a lorry receipt is the standard document. If you are shipping goods internationally by road, you may also need a CMR (Convention Merchandise Road) document, which is a formal international transport document. For most everyday haulage — moving goods between UK locations — a lorry receipt is what you will receive and what you should keep.
Common mistakes when handling lorry receipts
The most common mistake is not checking the goods before the driver leaves. Once the vehicle departs, you have limited recourse if you later discover damage that was not noted on the receipt. Spend a few minutes inspecting the load, and if anything looks wrong, tell the driver before they go.
Another mistake is losing the receipt or not keeping it with your records. If you need to make a claim weeks or months later, you will need to find the receipt quickly. Store it with your invoice, your booking confirmation, and any photos you took of the goods before collection.
A third mistake is not asking for a receipt at all. If you are using a small local haulage company or a one-off service, you might assume a receipt is not necessary. But even for a single shipment, a receipt is worth having. It costs the haulage company nothing to issue, and it protects you if anything goes wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lorry receipt if I am just moving house?
If you are using a professional removal company, they should issue a receipt or inventory list showing what they collected and in what condition. This protects both you and them. If you are borrowing a friend's van or hiring a casual driver, a receipt is less common, but it is still a good idea to get something in writing — even a text message confirming the date and what was loaded — in case anything goes missing.
What if the driver refuses to note damage on the receipt?
If you point out damage and the driver refuses to record it, take photos of the damage yourself and note the date, time, and driver's name. Contact the haulage company when ready and explain what happened. Document your complaint in writing. This creates a record that you reported the damage promptly, which strengthens your position if you need to make a claim later.
Can I use a lorry receipt to track my goods in real time?
A lorry receipt itself does not provide tracking. However, the reference number on the receipt can usually be used to contact the haulage company and ask for an update on where your goods are. Some haulage companies offer GPS tracking as an add-on service, but this is separate from the receipt. Ask your haulage company what tracking options they offer when you book.
What should I do if I never receive a lorry receipt?
Contact the haulage company within 24 hours and ask them to issue one. Provide the date of collection, your name, and the driver's name if you know it. Most companies will be able to retrieve the information from their records and send you a copy. If they refuse or cannot find a record, this is a red flag that the company may not be professional or reliable.
Is a lorry receipt the same as a delivery note?
No. A lorry receipt is issued when the driver collects the goods from you. A delivery note is issued when the goods arrive at their destination and are handed to the recipient. You will receive the lorry receipt on collection day; the recipient will receive the delivery note on arrival day. Both are useful to keep, as they create a complete record of the journey.