Create Delivery

POST /drive/v2/deliveries is the core endpoint used to create a parcel in DashLink. It is functionally identical to accepting a quote, except it does not allow a preview of the fee or serviceability beforehand.

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When to use create delivery

Use this endpoint instead of quotes when:

• You already trust your serviceability logic
• You don’t need to preview fees
• You want to simplify your integration to a single step
• You run a synchronous realtime workflow

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Endpoint

POST /drive/v2/deliveries

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Request behavior

The delivery creation call:

• Creates an active parcel delivery
• Generates or confirms the tracking code
• Validates the full request payload
• Triggers address correction
• Returns a base64 shipping label
• Initiates the delivery lifecycle

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Request Fields

A sample request and response found in the Create Delivery Example appendix.

Field	Type	Requirement	Description
external_delivery_id	string	Required	Empty string signals DashLink to generate the code. Required if shipper-generated tracking codes are used. Must be 15–35 characters, unique, no leading zeros. Prefix must be DashLink-approved
order_fulfillment_method	string	Required	Must be "parcel" for DashLink.
pickup_external_business_id	string	Required	String identifier for your business provided by DashLink.
origin_facility_id	string	Required	Merchant warehouse ID used for mid-mile routing provided by DashLink.
dropoff_address	string	Required	Full comma-separated delivery address used for serviceability and fee checks.
pickup_business_name	string	Required	Name of the business shipping the item; used in SMS communications and the tracking page.
dropoff_business_name	string	Recommended	Name of the business receiving the delivery, used to help Dashers identify the dropoff location.
dropoff_location.lat	integer	Optional	Latitude for precise navigation. Used only for routing, not fee validation and overrides geocoding.
dropoff_location.lng	integer	Optional	Longitude for precise navigation. Overrides geocoding.
dropoff_phone_number	string	Required	Must follow E.164 format (e.g. +16505555555). DashLink has the ability to default a support phone number when an invalid number is passed, please reach out to your representative if you would like this enabled.
dropoff_instructions	string	Recommended	Instructions to help Dashers successfully complete the delivery.
dropoff_contact_given_name	string	Required	Recipient first name.
dropoff_contact_family_name	string	Required	Recipient last name.
dropoff_contact_send_notifications	boolean	Recommended	Defaults to true. Indicates whether SMS notifications will be sent for this delivery.
customer_expected_sla	object	Optional	The delivery date or time communicated to the customer (e.g., “Arrives by Apr 24”). This field may also be used as a signal that the order will be handed off at a later time (e.g., for future-dated shipments). It does not override the system-calculated delivery estimate and may be ignored if it is not operationally feasible.
expires_by	object	Optional	The final date or time after which the order is no longer valid and should not be delivered. This acts as a hard cutoff for fulfillment. Contains either day (string, e.g., "2026-04-24") or timestamp fields.

Dropoff Address Components

Field	Type	Requirement	Description
dropoff_address_components.street_address	string	Required	Street address line.
dropoff_address_components.sub_premise	string	Recommended	Apartment, suite, or unit number.
dropoff_address_components.city	string	Required	City name.
dropoff_address_components.state	string	Required	2-letter state code.
dropoff_address_components.zip_code	string	Required	ZIP or postal code.
dropoff_address_components.country	string	Required	Country code (e.g. "US").

Order & Item Details

Field	Type	Requirement	Description
order_value	integer (cents)	Recommended	Subtotal excluding tax/tip (e.g. $19.99 → 1999). Must be ≥ 0.
currency	string	Optional	Defaults to USD. Currency code.
items[]	array	Required	Array of Delivery Item objects (maximum 1 item).

Shipping Label Options

Field	Type	Requirement	Description
shipping_label_config.label_format	string	Required	The file format of the label. Enum: "zpl" "pdf"
shipping_label_config.print_density	string	Optional	Required when label_format is zpl. Must not be set when label_format is pdf. Enum: "203dpi" "300dpi"
shipping_label_config.label_size	string	Required	The size of the label. Value: "4x6"
shipping_label_metadata.internal_location_id	string	Optional	Internal location ID for the shipping label.
shipping_label_metadata.label_business_name	string	Optional	Optional brand or display name to print as the "business name" on the rendered shipping label. When set, replaces the business name stored on the parcel for label-rendering purposes only; the underlying business identity on the delivery is unchanged. Omit to print the stored business name.

Delivery Item Object

Field	Type	Requirement	Description
items[].name	string	Required	Name of the package or item.
items[].description	string	Optional	Description of item contents.
items[].external_id	string	Optional	Shipper-provided metadata that will print on the label returned.
items[].quantity	integer	Required	Quantity of item (always 1 for parcel shipments).
items[].height	integer (inches)	Required	Height of package. Must be ≤ 36 inches.
items[].width	integer (inches)	Required	Width of package. Must be ≤ 36 inches.
items[].length	integer (inches)	Required	Length of package. Must be ≤ 36 inches.
items[].weight	integer (pounds)	Required	Weight of package. Must be ≤ 50 pounds.
items[].volume	integer (cubic feet)	Optional	Volume of package, (H × W × L) / 1728. Must be ≤ 6 cubic feet. If omitted, it's calculated from height, width, and length and the same limit applies.
items[].price	integer (cents)	Optional	Price of item in lowest currency denomination.

Delivery Options

Field	Type	Requirement	Description
contactless_dropoff	boolean	Required	Defaults to true. If true, Dasher takes photo at dropoff.
dropoff_requires_signature	boolean	Required	Defaults to false. Requires recipient signature. Mutually exclusive with contactless_dropoff

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Response Fields

In addition to the create delivery request fields returned in the response, the fields below are either only sent in the response or possibly updated from the request inputs sent.

A sample request and response found in the Create Delivery Example appendix.

Field	Type	Description
external_delivery_id	string	Echoed unique delivery ID generated by the caller.
delivery_status	string	Always "created" for this endpoint.
fee	integer (cents)	Delivery fee in lowest currency denomination (e.g. $5.99 → 599).
fee_components	array	Breakdown of individual fee components that make up the total fee.
fee_components.type	string	Type of fee: "package_fee", "fuel_surcharge", or "delivery_area_surcharge".
fee_components.amount	integer (cents)	Amount for this fee component in lowest currency denomination.
dropoff_address	string	Full comma-separated delivery address returned by geocoding.
dropoff_location.lat	integer	Latitude returned by geocoding for precise navigation.
dropoff_location.lng	integer	Longitude returned by geocoding for precise navigation.
dropoff_address_components.street_address	string	Geocoded street address line.
dropoff_address_components.sub_premise	string	Geocoded apartment, suite, or unit number.
dropoff_address_components.city	string	Geocoded city name.
dropoff_address_components.state	string	Geocoded 2-letter state code.
dropoff_address_components.zip_code	string	Geocoded ZIP or postal code.
dropoff_address_components.country	string	Geocoded country code (e.g. "US").
updated_at	string (ISO-8601)	Timestamp indicating when the delivery record was last updated.
pickup_time_estimated	string (ISO-8601)	Estimated pickup time, if available.
dropoff_time_estimated	string (ISO-8601)	Estimated delivery time, if available.
support_reference	string	Internal DashLink support reference ID.
tracking_url	string	Customer-facing tracking page URL.
shipping_label.label_format	string	Label format (e.g. "zpl").
shipping_label.label_size	string	Label size (e.g. "4x6").
shipping_label.print_density	string	Print density (e.g. "203dpi").
shipping_label.label_string	string (base64)	Base64-encoded shipping label string.
action_if_undeliverable	string	What DashLink should do if the parcel cannot be delivered. All parcel shipments use: "return_to_pickup", parcels are never disposed or left behind unless configured differently.

Note: Not all fields that may be returned by the Drive API are listed above.
This table includes only the fields relevant to the DashLink parcel use case.

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