What is a shipping and logistics invoice template?

A shipping and logistics invoice template is a reusable layout for billing for freight, transportation, delivery, trucking, or cross-border goods. It helps you organize customer, shipment, service, product, charge, due date, and payment details in one document.

What should I include on a shipping invoice?

Include your business and customer details, a unique invoice number, the invoice date, and the due date. Add shipment or load references, pickup and delivery details, a description of the goods or service, quantities, weights, miles, rates, freight charges, fuel surcharges, taxes, and the total due when they apply.

Should I use a shipping invoice or a trucking invoice?

Use a shipping invoice for general freight, delivery, and handling charges. Use a trucking invoice when you need to show loads, routes, mileage, time, equipment, fuel, detention, or other trucking costs.

What is the difference between a shipping invoice and a commercial invoice?

A shipping invoice usually bills a customer for transportation or delivery services. A commercial invoice describes goods sold and shipped across borders and may be used by the buyer, carrier, and customs authorities. Some shipments need both kinds of information.

Do I need a commercial invoice for international shipping?

You may need a commercial invoice when goods cross a border. The exact requirements depend on the goods, value, reason for export, carrier, and destination. Check the current carrier and customs instructions before you ship.

Can I add freight charges and fuel surcharges to an invoice?

Yes. Add freight, delivery, mileage, fuel, toll, handling, loading, unloading, storage, detention, brokerage, insurance, and other charges as separate line items when they apply. Clear line items make the total easier to check.

Can I create a receipt after my customer pays?

Yes. After your customer pays a Docelf invoice, you can create a receipt from it. Docelf reuses the invoice information, so you do not have to enter the same customer and line-item details again.

Shipping & Logistics Invoice Templates

Need to bill for a load, delivery, or shipment? Start with the invoice that fits the job.

Choose a shipping or trucking template for transportation services, or start with a commercial, customs, or export invoice when goods move across borders. Add the references, routes, goods, rates, and extra charges the shipment requires.

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Shipping and logistics invoice template from Docelf

Choose the Invoice That Matches the Shipment

Start with what you are billing. Transportation invoices focus on the service and its charges. Trade and customs invoices focus on the goods, value, origin, destination, and shipment details.

Freight, Delivery & Trucking Invoices

Bill for freight, delivery, hauling, routes, loads, mileage, fuel, handling, and other transportation services.

Commercial, Customs & Export Invoices

Describe goods, values, parties, origin, destination, and other details used for cross-border sales and shipments. Check the current carrier and customs requirements before shipping.

Choose a File Format

Use Word or Google Docs when the shipment needs flexible descriptions and reference details. Use Excel or Google Sheets when you need to total quantities, mileage, weights, rates, fuel surcharges, and several added charges.

Prefer not to manage a separate file? Create the invoice online with Docelf. Docelf handles the totals and keeps the finished invoice with the rest of your documents.

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What to Include on a Shipping or Logistics Invoice

A clear invoice should tell your customer what moved, what service you provided, how you calculated the charge, and when payment is due.

Your business name, contact details, and logo when you want to add it.
Your customer's name, company, billing address, and contact details.
A unique invoice number, the invoice date, and the payment due date.
The shipment, load, order, booking, bill of lading, or other reference number when it applies.
Pickup, origin, delivery, and destination details when your customer needs them.
A clear description of the transportation service or the goods being shipped.
Packages, pallets, quantities, weights, dimensions, miles, hours, rates, and line totals when they apply.
Freight, delivery, fuel, toll, handling, loading, unloading, storage, detention, brokerage, insurance, or other charges.
Country of origin, item values, commodity details, and other trade information when a cross-border shipment requires it.
Discounts, sales tax, subtotal, total due, payment instructions, terms, notes, and attachments.

Keep each added charge on its own line when that helps the customer match the invoice to the rate agreement, load, or shipment record.

Shipping, Commercial, Customs, or Export Invoice?

Use a shipping invoice when you are billing for freight, delivery, handling, or another transportation service. Use a trucking invoice when the charge depends on a load, route, mileage, time, equipment, fuel, or another trucking cost.

Use a commercial invoice when goods are sold and shipped across borders. It describes the goods, their value, the buyer and seller, and other information a carrier or customs authority may need.

A customs or export invoice may be the better starting point when the shipment needs customs-specific or export-specific details. Requirements vary by product, carrier, destination, and reason for export, so confirm the current instructions for each shipment.

These templates help you organize the information, but they do not replace the documents or details required by the carrier or customs authority.

More Invoice Templates

Return to the main invoice collection, browse another industry, or choose a template around the business transaction instead of the shipment.