What Does Proof of Delivery Mean?

Proof of delivery, or POD, is a document or email issued by the shipper and sent to the receiver that proves that the delivery made it to its final location. It includes information such as the date and time at which the item was delivered, the tracking number for the shipment, and possibly even a copy of the recipient’s signature.

Why is POD Important?

Having proof of delivery as a standard part of your shipping process is important for customers because it gives them a feeling of more control in the process. It also gives them a confirmation time and date of the delivery so they are better informed about the shipment. On the business side, having a POD is important because it gives you a better customer experience, saves you from spending money on unnecessary replacements or refunds, and helps with any customer service issues.

Proof of Delivery vs. Bill of Lading

The main difference between a proof of delivery and a bill of lading is that the POD is mainly meant for the final receiver of the product to see when the product reached their address whereas the BOL is a legally binding document that shows the carrier received the items from the business and the will deliver them.

USPS Proof Of Delivery

USPS Proof of Delivery is only available when you ship an item that has signature confirmation applied to it. It is available when shipping to all 50 US states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. A USPS POD can’t be requested for shipments going to another country. You may be able to request one from that country’s postal service. In order to request Proof of Delivery from USPS, you’ll need to use the USPS tracking tool on the USPS website.

FedEx Proof of Delivery

In order to get a FedEx Proof of Delivery, you’ll need to input your air waybill number on FedEx’s website. With FedEx Express, signed POD letters are available for up to 18 months after the original shipment. Up to 30 POD letters can be requested at the same time.

UPS Proof of Delivery

For UPS account holders, a UPS proof of delivery can be obtained by navigating to the Shipment Detail page in Quantum View. You’ll have to find the tracking number associated with the shipment within the Shipment Details page table. Select that tracking number and then click on Proof of Delivery to be able to print that document.