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CVS POD Requirement Update 10/24/25

Navigating CVS POD changes and it's impacts to disputing shortage deductions

Parker Johnson avatar
Written by Parker Johnson
Updated over a week ago

Intro

CVS Announced dispute process changes on 10/24/25, effective immediately. They are now requiring PODs on all disputes whether Prepaid or Collect. Not only is a POD required, but if a POD is missing from the dispute, signed short, or marked STC (Said-To-Contain), a $25 charge per dispute can be issued. On top of that the Dispute window has been adjusted and Shortage Disputes now only have an 18 month window if shipped Prepaid, while Collect Disputes have a 9 month window. The previous dispute window as 2 years.

Collect Suppliers are the most impacted, with the new POD requirements and 9 month dispute window. Prepaid Shippers are impacted with shortened 18 month window. Both are impacted with the requirement that PODs are signed in full and not marked STC. These changes are mostly documented in the General Supplier Policy.

Getting PODs as a Collect Supplier

  • CVS recommends Collect Suppliers reach out to the carrier who picked up for PODs. If the Carrier can't provide it, the carrier should be reaching out to the DC it shipped to. If the carrier won't reach out to DC, the supplier can also attempt to reach out to the DC

    • ⭐️ If the DC cannot provide the POD (since they are not required to), a screenshot of this response from the DC email can be submitted in place of a POD as proof, and CVS will look for the POD as disputes are submitted. If manually adding these DC emails as proof in SupplyPike, they should be labeled as POD in order to get the dispute to submit

  • If our specified document email is cc'd on these email requests and a POD is provided, SupplyPike will automatically attach these in app. If you are unsure which email to cc on a request, reach out to support@supplypike.com or your Dedicated CSM.

Where the above responsibility lives during this process is documented in the CVS Routing Guide. Additionally, contacts for each DC are documented in the CVS Routing Guide

Here is a template for reaching out to carriers for PODs:

Hi [Carrier Team],

Due to new CVS requirements, signed PODs are now required on all collect shortage disputes. Could you help us by providing PODs for the following CVS PO/ Tracking Numbers. If you do not have a copy, the CVS Routing Guide states the carrier is responsible for reaching out to the DC. If the CVS DC cannot provide a POD, please share that response with us.

Thank you and let us know what other information may be required!

PO #

Tracking #

BOL #/ Shipment ID

The above fields are optional/ may vary per carrier on what is most helpful for tracking down the POD.

Best,

[Company Name]

SupplyPike App Updates:

  1. Dispute Window adjusted:

    1. Prepaid disputes now have an 18 month window

    2. Collect disputes now have a 9 month window

  2. POD Required Document for disputing:

    1. BOL was previously recommended for Collect disputes, now PODs are required for disputing, regardless of freight type.

  3. For suppliers who are mixed (Both Prepaid/ Collect), the freight term/ type can be edited in bulk from the list view.

  4. POD is now required for Auto-Dispute on Shortages in the Settings page.

Additional in App Workflow Note:

  • We recommended archiving or holding off on disputing anything with a POD that is signed short or marked STC. Once you have obtained a POD that is signed, you can unarchive and/or continue disputing.

Full CVS Announcement

10/24/2025

Dear Valued Supplier:

Effective on the date of this letter, the CVS Accounts Payable Department will no longer accept shortage disputes for our warehouse locations unless the proper signed Proof of Delivery is included in the dispute. By providing the signed Proof of Delivery, this will eliminate the unnecessary shortage disputes that are being raised with our team and will expedite the time it takes for our team to properly research a valid shortage dispute.

For shortage disputes raised prior to the effective date and a valid POD is not provided, the Accounts Payable team will perform a courtesy review and if we cannot locate the merchandise or validate the merchandise belongs to the shortage in question, we will deny and close the dispute.

As stated in our CVS General Supplier Policy and the CVS Routing Guide, your disputes will be denied for the following reasons:

· Prepaid shipment shortage disputes must be submitted in our AP Vendor Portal within 18 months of the signed POD/receipt date.

· Collect shipment shortage disputes must be submitted within 9 months of the signed POD/receipt date.

· Disputes older than 2 years from the payment date will not be accepted.

· The provided POD is not the required signed POD with CVS signatures:

STC-signed PODs are unacceptable.

Contact your carrier to obtain the correct signed POD.

If unavailable, the carrier should request it from the DC.

Once the POD is provided, verify that shortages were not noted before raising a dispute.

· Raising a duplicate dispute of a chargeback without providing additional signed POD or additional documentation.

Continuing to not comply with CVS Policies including, late or invalid dispute submissions may result in a $25 administrative charge per dispute and loss of portal access.

CVS policy references:

Routing Guide - https://cvssuppliers.com/node/366

CVS General Supplier Policy - https://cvssuppliers.com/node/741

Excerpt from CVS Routing Guide:

CVS distribution centers policy for acknowledging and handling delivery paperwork ensures accuracy and efficiency in the receipt of merchandise. This policy aligns with industry standards to maintain consistency and reliability in supply chain operations.

CVS Responsibility

Acknowledging receipt of merchandise by signing paperwork

Reconciling receipts w/ paperwork (packing list)

Provide copies for the carrier to pick up

Carrier Responsibility Live

Pick up paperwork at the conclusion of appointment

If paperwork is not available at the time of departure, please e-mail the DC to request the paperwork.

Drop

Take STC paperwork when dropping

Pick up signed/reconciled paperwork when picking up trailer

Carriers must make the signed/reconciled paperwork available to their vendors. STC paperwork is not sufficient backup for the vendors.

Other Notes:

Vendors must request POD copies directly from the delivery carrier.

This applies to all delivery types, as well as vendor-managed (prepaid) and CVS-managed (collect) freight.

CVS keeps copies of all delivery paperwork but is not required to provide copies to vendors.

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