What is proof of delivery (POD)?
Proof of delivery (POD) is the evidence that a shipment was delivered to the right party, at the right place, in the right condition. It’s the moment where the carrier’s responsibility ends — and the customer can be invoiced.
Without POD, a transport company often can’t get paid. With POD, the transaction is closed: legally, financially and operationally.
What counts as a POD
Different industries accept different forms:
- A signed CMR for international road transport (see CMR).
- A signed delivery note (vrachtbrief / Lieferschein).
- A digital signature on the driver’s app.
- A photo of the cargo at the unloading point.
- A timestamped GPS location combined with status update.
- A PIN code verified by the consignee (common in parcel delivery).
Best practice is to combine: signature plus photo plus timestamp plus location.
What a strong POD contains
- Date and time of delivery.
- Location (address + coordinates).
- Name of the receiver and their signature.
- Condition of the cargo — delivered intact, with damages, partial.
- Reference numbers linking back to the order and shipment.
- Any exceptions noted by the driver (refused goods, short delivery, damage).
Why digital POD wins
| Paper POD | Digital POD |
|---|---|
| Lives in the cab until end of week | Available in the back office within seconds |
| Often lost or unreadable | Searchable and exportable |
| Manual data entry to invoice | Triggers invoicing automatically |
| Disputes resolved days later | Photo + timestamp + GPS = no dispute |
In Routix, the driver mobile app captures POD at the stop — signature, photo, timestamp, location — and attaches it to the shipment. Invoicing picks it up the moment the trip is closed.
POD and disputes
A POD is your strongest evidence in a damage or short-delivery claim. The carrier’s liability under the CMR Convention runs from pickup to signed delivery. If you can’t show that signature, you can’t easily defend against a claim.
Tips:
- Capture the receiver’s printed name, not just a signature.
- Photo of the cargo as delivered — not just the building.
- Note any damage before unloading where possible.
POD in different transport modes
- Road – CMR, signed at the stop.
- Sea – endorsed bill of lading at the destination port.
- Air – air waybill stamped at the destination.
- Parcel – scan + PIN or signature on the courier’s device.
Related concepts
See this in Routix
To make POD usable immediately after delivery, start on www.routix.com and then inspect the driver mobile app, Shipments and Invoices. In Routix that is how signature, photo and delivery status move straight into the billing flow.
