What is Proof of Delivery?
Proof of delivery (POD) is the record that goods were handed over to the consignee or its agent at the agreed place, normally showing the recipient's name and signature, the date and time, the piece count and any exceptions noted. It may be a signed delivery receipt, a stamped copy of the road consignment note or air waybill, or an electronic record with signature capture, photos and location data. A clean receipt has legal weight: under Article 31 of the Montreal Convention, receipt of cargo without complaint is prima facie evidence that it was delivered in good condition and in accordance with the transport document. CMR Article 30 and Hague-Visby Article III rule 6 give similar evidential effect to deliveries accepted without reservation or notice. A POD is therefore both an operational milestone and the starting point of any cargo claim.
Why it matters for forwarders
For forwarders the POD closes the shipment file, triggering final invoicing and, in many customer contracts, payment. The costliest mistake is a clean signature on short or damaged cargo, because it shifts the burden of proof to the claimant while short notice periods start to run. Those periods differ by mode: at the time of delivery for apparent damage under CMR, within three days for non-apparent damage under Hague-Visby, and within 14 days of receipt for air cargo damage under the Montreal Convention. Drivers and consignees should write specific exceptions on the receipt, such as the number of cartons crushed and whether the seal was intact, because a vague note may not count as a valid reservation. Collect POD copies promptly from subcontracted hauliers, as missing PODs are a common reason for delayed invoices and disputed accessorial charges.