This page is a delivery-day checklist for freight access, rack identification, damage records, and unloading responsibility. It is not an install-day building-prep guide. For site readiness before crews hang glass, use how to prepare a building for glass installation.
Why delivery day is its own scope
Freight day fails when the truck cannot reach the laydown, crates are unlabeled, damage is unsigned, or nobody owns the forklift. That is a different problem from opening protection and temporary weather seals on install day.
Agree unloading responsibilities in writing before the BOL is cut. Dock drop, curb drop, and inside delivery are different scopes. Silence on the PO is how arguments start at the trailer door.
This checklist is a template. It is not carrier legal advice and it does not invent claim windows or dollar allowances.
GC delivery-day checklist (template)
Walk the list the morning of delivery. Photograph exceptions before the driver leaves.
TEMPLATE ONLY. Process checklist. Not legal advice. No invented claim deadlines.
| Checkpoint | Confirm before / at delivery | Done? | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck access | Route clear, height/weight limits known, staging zone marked, after-hours gate plan | ☐ | GC / site |
| Unloading means | Forklift / crane / pallet jack available; who operates; dock vs set-down named on PO | ☐ | Named on PO |
| Rack / crate ID | Packing list matches Building / Floor / Mark labels; count crates before moving | ☐ | Receiver |
| Damage record | Photo broken crates/glass; note on BOL before sign-off; keep copies | ☐ | Receiver |
| Dry storage | Covered laydown, upright racks, away from traffic, no stacking against glass faces | ☐ | GC / site |
| Hardware / docs | Hardware boxes and approval docs accounted for with the same release | ☐ | Receiver |
Truck access and unloading means
Confirm the delivery address the driver will use, not just the marketing site address. Note low canopies, soft soils, campus gate hours, and whether a spotter is required.
Name who provides the forklift or crane. If the carrier only drops at dock, say so on the PO. If the glazing seller includes set-down to a marked zone, say that too.
Rack identification
Pre-glazed units and stick packages travel on racks that must stay upright and labeled. Match crate tags to the packing list and to the building/floor release IDs from your buyout register.
If labels are missing, stop before the truck leaves. Unsigned mystery crates become remake arguments weeks later.
Damage records
Photograph broken banding, wet crates, and cracked lites before you sign. Note exceptions on the bill of lading. Clean signatures with no notes make claims harder.
Notify the seller the same day with photos and the BOL number. Keep the damaged material until the seller says otherwise, unless site safety requires isolation.
Storage after unload
Keep glass upright on proper racks, out of traffic lanes, and under cover. Do not lean crates on unfinished walls that will be painted or sealed later. Protect edges from forklift forks and scaffold traffic.
How to lock delivery terms before the truck rolls
Send elevations and the door and window schedule. Add one sentence naming the delivery city and unload condition (dock drop vs set-down). State material-only vs furnish-and-install.
ACG works from West Palm Beach, Naples, and Tampa. Call (772) 486-7711. FL CGC #1531993.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a GC confirm before a commercial glass delivery?
Confirm truck access, who provides unloading equipment, the named delivery condition on the PO, and that dry storage is ready. Have a receiver ready to match crates to the packing list and photograph damage before sign-off.
How is this different from preparing the building for installation?
Building prep covers openings, protection, and install access. Freight day covers the truck, unloading, labels, BOL notes, and storage. Use both checklists on different days.
Who should note damage on the bill of lading?
The site receiver should photograph exceptions and note them on the BOL before the driver leaves. Clean signatures without notes make later claims harder. Exact claim windows are carrier-specific.
How should delivery terms be written on a material-only PO?
Name the delivery city and the unload condition: dock drop, curb drop, or set-down to a marked zone. State whether forklift labor is included or by others.