What is Cargo Ready Date?
The cargo ready date (CRD) is the date on which the supplier confirms that goods will be fully produced, packed, labelled and available for collection or delivery to the carrier at the agreed place. It is a commercial planning date set in the purchase order or booking, not a legal or regulatory term, but it drives the entire transport plan: booking space, positioning equipment, arranging pick-up and meeting carrier cut-offs. The CRD differs from the estimated time of departure, which depends on the vessel or flight schedule, and from the delivery point that the Incoterms rule defines for transfer of risk. In practice the CRD is the anchor from which forwarders work backwards from the required arrival date, adding transit time, port dwell and customs clearance.
Why it matters for forwarders
Most delays that buyers attribute to the forwarder start with an inaccurate cargo ready date: if goods are not ready, booked space is lost, containers sit at the factory incurring detention, or air freight becomes the only option. Confirming the CRD a few days before pick-up, along with final weights and dimensions, avoids rolled bookings and rebooking fees. Several compliance deadlines key off the shipment rather than the CRD, such as the SOLAS verified gross mass that must be provided before a container is loaded and the US Importer Security Filing due 24 hours before lading, so a late CRD can compress document preparation. Track CRD changes against purchase order due dates so that the buyer sees the knock-on effect on arrival and can decide whether to expedite. A CRD should also reflect the time needed for export customs clearance and any inspection or certification at origin.