Orders · updated 2026-08-08

How to create a delivery order in Dumpster Controls

A delivery order is the full package: dumpster reserved, invoice sent, driver tasks created. This is the standard way the office books a rental by phone.

Before you start

At least one active dumpster size with available units in Inventory (otherwise you will see "No dumpster sizes registered" with an "Add inventory now" button that takes you straight to Inventory, or "No dumpsters available for this size").
A customer record, or create one inline during the order.

## Select the customer
Under "Customer Information", use "Select Customer" and type in "Search customer name or company…". Pick a match, or click "Create New Customer" (also offered as Create "your text" when nothing matches). Selecting a customer auto-fills the delivery address from their record. A pencil icon lets you edit the customer without leaving the page. Optionally fill "PO Number (optional)".
## Set the dumpster and price
In "1. Dumpster Rental", choose the "Size". The smallest size is preselected and choosing a size auto-fills "Amount ($)", "Included Weight (tons)", and "Fuel Surcharge (FSC)" from that size's settings; all stay editable. Adjust "Tax (%)" and the "Qty:" stepper if the customer needs more than one unit.
## Set the dates
"Delivery Date" cannot be in the past. "Pickup Date" unlocks after it (tooltip: "Select a Delivery Date first") and cannot come before delivery. "Due Date" is the invoice due date. All three are required for delivery orders.
## Enter the address
Fill "ZIP / Postal Code" and the "Delivery Address" field (placeholder "Search address...") with Google autocomplete; city, state, and zip fill in automatically when you pick a suggestion.
## Add driver guidance (optional)
Write "Driver Instructions" ("Add drop-off instructions (e.g. gate #, placement spot)."), upload a "Photo", and use "Set dumpster placement on map" to pin the exact drop spot.
## Choose the payment method
Under "Select Payment Method", pick "Payment Link" (Stripe link sent to the customer), "Cash" (for cash, Zelle, check, and other manual methods, always free of platform fees), or "Card by Phone" (charge the card immediately). See the Invoicing & Payments manual for details on each.
## Review and submit
Check the "Invoice Summary", optionally edit "Note to Customer" (default "Thank you for your business"), and click "Create Delivery Order".
## Confirm in the "Invoice Preview"
A full invoice preview opens ("Review the invoice before sending to the customer."). Under "Delivery Options" set "Send via Email" recipients ("Add another email...", "Send admin copy"), "Send Text Message Notification" with the "Phone Number", and for payment links the "Card Fee Handling": "Customer pays fee", "Company absorbs fee", or "Split 50/50". Click "Confirm & Send".

What happens next

A toast confirms "Order & Invoice created" with the order and invoice numbers, and you are returned to the Dashboard.
The invoice goes out by email and SMS, and automatic payment reminders are scheduled starting the next morning.
Delivery and pickup tasks are generated for the Dispatch board, and the order appears in the "Operations" page under "Deliveries".

Troubleshooting

I get "Missing required fields".

Fields highlighted in red are mandatory: customer, size, "Delivery Date", "Pickup Date", "Due Date", and the delivery address.

I get "Minimum order amount".

The total must be at least $10 (or exactly $0).

The date is rejected.

"Delivery date cannot be in the past.", "Pickup date cannot be before the delivery date.", and "Due date cannot be in the past." are enforced on submit.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Dumpster Controls really free?

Yes. The software is free: dispatch, online booking, the driver app, invoicing, the Tresha AI assistant and every other feature, with no monthly fee, no trial period and no credit card to sign up. The only cost on the free plan is optional card processing when a customer pays by card through the platform: 2.99% plus $3.99 per transaction on the free plan. An optional Unlimited plan at $169 per month lowers that to 2.99% plus $0.30. Prices as published on dumpstercontrols.io/pricing on 2026-09-23.

Do you charge per driver, per truck or per order?

No. There is no per-driver, per-truck, per-user or per-order fee, and no order limit. A company with one truck and a company with twenty pay the same for the software: nothing.

Is there a contract?

No. There is no contract, no minimum term and no setup fee. You create the account yourself, and on the free plan there is nothing to cancel because nothing is billed. The optional Unlimited plan is billed month to month.

Which countries and languages are supported?

Dumpster Controls serves hauling companies in the United States and Canada. The app interface and the Tresha AI assistant are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The public pages, such as the blog, the help center and the landfill finder, are in English.

How do I switch from another dumpster software?

Create a free account at dumpstercontrols.io/login, with no sales call and no credit card. Then import your customers from a CSV file using the template provided in the app; past orders can also be imported from a CSV. Container sizes and pricing are set up in Settings. The landfill database, with 1,750 active US and Canadian landfills as counted on 2026-10-01, is already loaded, so disposal sites do not need to be typed in. Step-by-step guides are at dumpstercontrols.io/help.