Definition
A proof of delivery (POD) is the document showing that freight was delivered, to whom and in what condition. On a truck shipment it is the delivery receipt or the signed bill of lading: the receiver's name and signature, the date and time, the piece count, and any notes about damage or shortage.
Why it matters
The POD closes the shipment. Customers ask for it to release payment, brokers need it to invoice, and it is the first document a carrier looks at when a claim is filed. A clean signature with no exceptions noted makes a later damage claim much harder to win.
What a receiver should write on it
Count the pieces and inspect the freight before signing. Any visible damage, crushed corners, torn wrap or missing pieces should be written on the delivery receipt at the time of delivery, in specific words. "Subject to inspection" protects very little. If damage is found after the driver leaves, carriers set a short window to report it, commonly five business days.
Where PODs come from
The carrier scans the signed receipt and makes it available in its portal or to the broker's system, usually within a day or two of delivery. LTL and truckload documents are stored differently and often arrive under file names that say nothing about what they are, so the dependable way to find one is by document type on the shipment record.
The cost of chasing them
On a busy desk, POD requests are a steady stream of small interruptions: find the load, check whether the document is in yet, download it, reply to the right thread. Sent automatically when the document appears, the request never gets made. TIO's agents send it as soon as the carrier posts the document, without anyone typing the email.
Finding and forwarding PODs is a small job done dozens of times a week. TIO's trucking agents pick up the document when the carrier posts it and email it to the customer in the shipment's thread.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
Is a POD the same as a bill of lading?
Not quite. The bill of lading is the contract issued at pickup. The POD is the record of delivery, which is often the same bill of lading or a carrier delivery receipt with the receiver's signature and date added.
How long does it take to get a POD?
Usually one to two business days after delivery for the scanned document, though delivery status appears in tracking the same day. Truckload PODs depend on the driver or carrier sending the signed paperwork in.
What if the POD shows damage?
Keep the freight and packaging, take photos, and file a claim with the carrier promptly. A notation on the POD made at delivery is the strongest evidence a claim can have.