What is a Chain of Custody (Freight)?
In freight and logistics, chain of custody is the documented, unbroken record of who handled a shipment and where it was at each step, from origin to destination. For high-value cargo escorts, it’s built from timestamped handoffs, geo-tagged checkpoints, and signatures that together prove the shipment was continuously accounted for.
How chain of custody is built
Each handoff, stop, and checkpoint is recorded with a time, a location, and ideally a photo and an attributed user. Linked together in order, these records form an auditable trail.
Why insurers and clients care
A complete chain of custody is evidence the shipment was protected and accounted for the entire way — critical for insurance claims, dispute resolution, and client trust.
Frequently asked
- What breaks a chain of custody?
- Any gap where the shipment’s location or handler isn’t documented — an unlogged stop, a missing signature, or a handoff with no record.