When the container arrives, check the seal and container before opening, then the cargo as it comes out: condition, bag count, marks and weight. Draw samples for testing, photograph everything and note any problem on the delivery receipt before the driver leaves.
These checks protect your right to claim against the carrier, insurer or supplier. Most claims fail for lack of evidence taken on the day. Have the loading report and photos from India to hand, so you can compare the same views at both ends.
The seal, the container and the first view
- Compare the seal number with the bill of lading and packing list.
- Check the seal is intact, and photograph it with the container number.
- Look for dents, holes or damage to the doors and roof.
- If a customs seal has replaced the original, keep the customs record.
- Photograph the first view before anything is touched.
- Note any smell of damp, mould or chemicals, and write it down at once.
- Look for condensation on the roof and walls, and wet or stained bags.
- Check whether the stow has shifted or bags have fallen against the doors.
As you unload
- Count bags or cartons by lot, against the packing list.
- Check marks, lot numbers and labels.
- Separate torn, wet or stained bags and photograph them.
- Weigh a random sample of bags on a calibrated scale, and compare the average with the loading weights.
- Look inside a few bags from different positions for insects, mould, caking or colour change.
Sampling and testing
Draw samples from several bags in each lot, seal and label them, and keep a counter-sample. Send them to an accredited lab for the tests in your spec. Compare results with the pre-shipment report. Use the same test methods where you can, because different methods can give different results for the same sample. Keep the counter-sample sealed and stored cool and dry until the lot is used or the claim is settled. Our guide on the difference between pre-shipment and destination testing explains how to read any gap.
If something is wrong
Stop unloading if damage is serious, write the problem on the delivery receipt, and notify your insurer, carrier and supplier in writing the same day. Ask for a surveyor before you move or discard damaged goods. Then follow how to handle a quality claim with an Indian supplier. Time limits are short, and this is general guidance, not legal advice.
How we help
Our loading report gives you the seal number, bag count, weights and photos to compare against on arrival. If something is wrong, we take your findings to the supplier and work through the claim with you. Ask for a free sourcing review.