What is an arrival notice in freight forwarding?

An arrival notice (AN) is a document issued by a freight forwarder or shipping agent to notify the consignee that their cargo has arrived or is about to arrive at the destination port or terminal. It contains shipment details such as the BL number, vessel name, ETA, cargo description, and instructions for how to take delivery. Consignees typically need the arrival notice to arrange customs clearance, book a trucker, and coordinate pickup from the CFS or terminal.

Who sends the arrival notice?

The arrival notice is sent by the destination freight forwarder or the carrier's local agent to the consignee and, when applicable, the notify party named on the Bill of Lading. In a typical NVOCC or HBL setup, the destination agent issues the HBL arrival notice while the carrier issues a separate MBL arrival notice to the freight forwarder.

What is the difference between an arrival notice and a delivery order?

An arrival notice is a notification document — it tells the consignee the cargo has arrived or is arriving soon, with all relevant shipment details. A delivery order (D/O) is an instruction document — it authorizes the terminal or CFS to release the cargo to the named party. The consignee typically receives the arrival notice first, then obtains or pays for the delivery order before the carrier releases the goods.

What is the Last Free Day (LFD) on an arrival notice?

The Last Free Day (LFD) is the final date by which cargo must be picked up from the terminal or CFS before storage charges begin. It is set by the carrier or terminal operator based on the free time allowed under the shipment terms. Freight forwarders include the LFD on the arrival notice so consignees can plan pickup in time and avoid demurrage or storage costs.

What does freight Prepaid or Collect mean on an arrival notice?

Freight Prepaid means the shipper has already paid the ocean freight — the consignee has no freight charges due at destination. Freight Collect means the consignee owes the freight charges at destination, typically payable to the destination agent before the cargo is released. The arrival notice states which applies so both the consignee and agent know what is outstanding before delivery.

Is this arrival notice template free to use commercially?

Yes. The Hansatic Arrival Notice Generator is completely free to use for any purpose, including commercial freight forwarding operations. No account or subscription is required. All processing happens in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to our servers or stored anywhere.

Free Arrival Notice Generator

Create professional arrival notice documents for ocean and air freight shipments. Fill in the details and download a PDF instantly, free.

Agent / Freight Forwarder

Upload Logo PNG or JPG, max 2MB

Agent / Company Name

Address

City

Country

Phone

Remember my company info for next time Saved locally in your browser only

Shipper

Shipper Name

Address

City

Country

Consignee

Consignee Name

Address

City

Country

Phone

Notify Party Same as consignee

Notify Party Name

Address

City

Country

Shipment Details

AN Reference

HBL No.

Date

Vessel Name

Voyage No.

Service Type

Port of Loading

Port of Discharge

Place of Delivery

ETD

ETA

Freight

Container No(s) / Seal No(s)

Cargo

Description of Goods Pkgs Pkg Type Gross Wt (kg) CBM

Cargo item

Gross Wt (kg)

CBM

Totals

Remarks / Instructions

Arrival Notice Generator — FAQ

Your next load, perfectly planned.

Start free. No credit card. No install.

Plan a Container Plan a Truck Load