The consignee is the person or company that receives a shipment. On the paperwork, they’re the receiving end of the delivery, and they’re the one who signs to confirm the freight showed up and in what condition. Consignee and “receiver” mean the same thing.
The consignee’s signature on the proof of delivery closes out the haul and is what lets the carrier bill for it. They sit opposite the consignor, the party that shipped the goods in the first place.