Trailer inspection checklist: the C-TPAT 7-point check, printable
The C-TPAT 7-point inspection CBP recommends covers 1. front wall, 2. left side, 3. right side, 4. floor, 5. ceiling/roof, 6. inside and outside doors, including the locking mechanisms, and 7. outside and undercarriage. Empty refrigerated containers add an eighth point, the fan housing. Below is a free one-page sheet with all of them, the seal check, and the fields CBP's criteria list for the record.
Free. No email, no signup. One letter-size page per container.
| # | Area inspected | OK | Issue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front wallSingle solid wall, no false front, blocks or plates; vent holes visible from inside. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 2 | Left sideNo unusual repairs, new bolts or rivets, fresh paint or bulges; tap for hollow sections. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 3 | Right sideSame as left: repairs that don't match the container's age, added thickness. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 4 | FloorLevel, even, correct height; no raised section or new material that could hide a compartment. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 5 | Ceiling / roofNo lowered ceiling, hidden compartment or repair; interior height consistent end to end. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 6 | Inside and outside doorsBoth panels and the locking mechanisms: original, secure hardware; hinges not tampered with. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 7 | Outside and undercarriageExterior and support beams: nothing attached, welded or modified that doesn't belong. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 8 | Fan housingEmpty refrigerated containers only. | ☐ | ☐ | |
| 9 | Seal (ISO 17712)Number matches the paperwork; seal intact, properly affixed, no sign of tampering. | ☐ | ☐ |
Based on CBP's CTPAT 7-point container inspection sample checklist and Minimum Security Criteria 5.3 and 5.5. CTPAT is voluntary; follow your own security program. Free sheet from vantageyms.com/tools/trailer-inspection-checklist
How to run the 7-point inspection
Run the points in order with the container empty and well lit. Most of them are about spotting a difference: unexpected repairs, mismatched materials, residue, or dimensions that don't add up. Mark each line OK or Issue, and write what you saw next to any issue.
- Before you start: fill in the container number, date, time and your name. CBP's criteria list these as part of the record (MSC 5.3 and 5.5).
- Points 1–7: check each area against the note on the sheet. Tap side walls to listen for hollow sections.
- Point 8, reefers only: on an empty refrigerated container, check the fan housing.
- Seal: write the seal number exactly and compare it with the paperwork. The number on the seal must match. Confirm the seal is intact and properly affixed. A mismatch means stop and escalate.
- Sign: sign the sheet and file it where you can find it by container number later.
Background and the reasons behind each point are in our C-TPAT 7-point inspection guide. If you are a highway carrier crossing a land border, you want the 17-point tractor and trailer checklist instead.
Where paper checklists break
The seven points are well defined. What breaks is the record: sheets get filed in a binder nobody can find, a box says "floor: OK" with no photo behind it, a seal number gets a transposed digit, and night shift ticks boxes faster than day shift. A paper sheet is a fine start. If you want the same check with a photo per point, see below.
The same check, on a phone.
Vantage runs digital C-TPAT 7-point inspections in the iPhone app: a photo for each point, seal number entry, a timestamp and an optional signature, producing an audit support pack you can pull up by container number. It prints a SHA-256 hash of each photo, which shows a photo file was not swapped; it does not by itself prove the record was never edited. C-TPAT inspection is on Pro ($349/mo) and above. Seals are typed in, not scanned. More on the C-TPAT inspection app page.
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Related reading
Source: CBP, CTPAT Job Aid: 7-Point Container Inspection Checklist Sample (October 2021), and the CTPAT Minimum Security Criteria, criteria 5.3 and 5.5.
Frequently asked
What is the C-TPAT 7-point inspection?
It is CBP's recommended security check for empty containers and unit load devices before loading: 1. front wall, 2. left side, 3. right side, 4. floor, 5. ceiling/roof, 6. inside and outside doors, including the locking mechanisms, and 7. outside and undercarriage. Empty refrigerated containers add an eighth point, the fan housing.
Is the 7-point inspection required by law?
No. CTPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) is a voluntary CBP program. CBP recommends the 7-point inspection in its CTPAT Minimum Security Criteria (criterion 5.3), and companies that join the program agree to follow those practices as part of their membership.
What should the inspection record include?
CBP's criteria call for recording the inspection on a checklist with the container number, the date, the time, the inspector's name and the areas inspected (CTPAT Minimum Security Criteria 5.3 and 5.5). This printable sheet has a field for each, plus the seal number and a sign-off line.
Is the 7-point check the same as the 17-point inspection?
No. The 7-point list is for empty containers and unit load devices. Highway carriers crossing a land border run a separate 17-point tractor-and-trailer checklist, and on a refrigerated trailer the refrigeration unit is one of those 17 points. We have a free printable 17-point checklist too.
How do I check the seal?
Read the seal number and write it down exactly; it must match the number on the shipping paperwork. Then confirm the seal is intact, properly affixed and shows no sign of tampering, cutting or re-fixing. The recognized standard for high-security seals is ISO 17712. A mismatch is a stop-and-escalate situation, not a typo to wave through.
Is the PDF free?
Yes. The PDF is free, with no email or signup. Print one sheet per container, or use the Print button on this page to print straight from your browser.
Skip the binder.
Photo per point, seal number, timestamp and signature, found by container number. Start free, no card.