Proof of Delivery (POD).

What it is

A POD — Proof of Delivery — is the signed document confirming the consignee received the freight in acceptable condition. It is usually a signed BOL or a separate signed delivery receipt, and it can be paper or electronic depending on the carrier's TMS and driver-app stack.

The POD records delivery date and time, consignee signature, and any exceptions noted at delivery — short, damaged, or refused freight. Modern POD systems include photo capture and GPS-stamped delivery confirmation, both of which are increasingly expected by larger brokers and shippers. Freight broker contracts almost always require a POD before payment is released, regardless of the underlying BOL.

Why it matters for trucking finance

Factoring advance hinges on POD: no POD, no advance, period. A clean POD with no exceptions advances at the agreed rate. PODs with exceptions can result in deductions or chargebacks against the factoring advance.

Broker payment terms — typically Net 30 to Net 60 — start from POD date, not pickup date. Lost or missing PODs are the most common factoring delay reason and are usually solvable with re-sigs from consignees if the carrier moves within a few days of delivery. Wait too long and the trail goes cold.

Related terms

• Bill of Lading (BOL) — Legal document between carrier and shipper that serves as receipt of freight, contract of carriage, and document of title.
• Recourse Factoring — Factoring arrangement where the carrier remains liable for unpaid invoices if the broker fails to pay; lower rates than non-recourse.
• Non-Recourse Factoring — Factoring arrangement where the factor absorbs broker insolvency risk on clean deliveries; higher rates than recourse.

Related Dispatched products

• Invoice factoring for truckers
• No credit check factoring