Knowledge base

Cargo inspection after unauthorised people in the trailer

What to do when unauthorised people were in the trailer (e.g. stowaways) and how cargo inspection works.

When unauthorised people are found in a trailer, it is best to send the cargo for inspection before further distribution. OTSL checks the condition of the goods, assesses fitness for sale or consumption and prepares a photo report, especially important for food and sensitive goods.

Why it matters

Trailer tampering can mean a sanitary risk.
The decision should rest on evidence, not guesswork.
The report speeds up claim handling with the insurer.

See inspection and recovery and the UK warehouse.

Related service: Cargo inspection

Frequently asked questions

Do goods from a tampered trailer have to be disposed of straight away?

No. First comes the inspection: a check of the condition of the goods, an assessment of fitness for sale or consumption and photo documentation. The decision on further distribution or disposal is made on evidence, not guesswork. Part of the load is often still fit for the market, and inspection separates it from what is lost.

What is the photo report from a cargo inspection for?

The report documents the condition of the goods after the incident and serves as evidence. It speeds up claim handling with the insurer, because instead of descriptions there are photos of specific pallets and damage. It also underpins the decision to sell or dispose, one you can later defend before the consignee, the insurer or the inspection authorities.

Why is food treated more strictly than other goods after trailer tampering?

The presence of unauthorised people in a trailer can mean a sanitary risk: contact with the goods, breached packaging, contamination. For food the precautionary principle applies, in case of doubt the goods do not go for consumption. That is why food loads after such an incident are sent for inspection before any further distribution.

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