Best practices
Best practice for seal verification at unloading
Seal verification is a handover moment: it’s one of the first checks at unloading, and one of the most important for legality, liability, and claims. Because it’s fast, manual, and often done under time pressure, it’s also prone to errors. Below is a practical, step-by-step way to run seal checks consistently, and how to remove the manual risk with scanning and number validation.
The 5-step checklist
1. Verify before opening
Check the seal before any door is opened. No seal check after door open.
2. Identify the shipment
Confirm container/trailer ID, shipment reference, dock, and operator.
3. Match the seal number
Compare the physical seal number with the transport documents (B/L, CMR, packing list).
4. Capture proof
Take a clear photo of the seal number and one context photo showing the door and seal.
5. Classify the result
Mark the seal as:
OK (intact & matching)
Mismatch
Broken/tampered
Missing
Trigger escalation immediately for any exception.
Why this check often fails
Even in well-run logistics operations, seal verification often fails because seal numbers are read and typed manually, photos are stored outside the workflow on personal phones or WhatsApp, inspection criteria vary by shift or operator, and evidence is not legally reliable or traceable.
Despite these issues, seal verification remains essential for liability management, claims handling, and regulatory compliance.
Automated seal verification
Seal verification can be automated with Cargosnap by turning seal checks into a guided, automated workflow step. Operators scan the seal or capture it directly in the app, and the seal number is automatically validated against the expected value. Photos, timestamps, operator identity, and location are recorded by default, while mismatches or broken seals trigger exceptions instantly.
This ensures consistent seal checks, reliable proof, and audit-ready data without slowing down unloading operations.
Learn more about logistics scanner and number validations
