Container loading supervision in India
Clear To Load supervises container loading at factories and inland depots across India for US$249 per man-day. The inspector checks the empty container, counts cartons against the packing list, opens random cartons, watches stacking and securing, and records the container and seal numbers with photographs, so you know the right goods left in a sound, sealed box.
- Price
- US$249 per man-day
- Report
- Within 24 hours
- Coverage
- Any factory in India
- Result
- Cleared to load · Hold · Not cleared
Container loading supervision, also called a loading check, puts an inspector at the factory or depot on the day the container is stuffed, to confirm that the right goods, in sound cartons, go into a sound container that is then sealed. This page covers how Clear To Load runs it in India, when to book and what it costs. The step-by-step list is in the container loading checklist.
On the loading day, from empty box to seal
The inspector is there before the first carton goes in and stays until the doors are sealed.
| Check | What the inspector does |
|---|---|
| Container condition | Holes, damage, odour, moisture and cleanliness before loading starts; the safety approval plate and container number are recorded. Unfit containers are rejected. |
| Quantity and SKUs | Cartons counted against the packing list, with random cartons opened to confirm contents. |
| Carton condition | Damaged, wet or re-taped cartons set aside and recorded. |
| Shipping marks | Carton marks, labels and barcodes checked against your specification. |
| Loading plan | Weight distribution, stacking, dunnage, desiccants, lashing and the ISPM 15 mark on any wood packaging. |
| Sealing | Container and seal numbers recorded and photographed when the doors close. |
Booking a loading check around Indian cut-offs
Loading dates are set by the forwarder's container booking and the vessel cut-off, and they move. Book us when the stuffing date is confirmed, and tell us at once if it changes.
| Step | When | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Container booking | When your forwarder confirms the stuffing date | Tell us where stuffing happens: at the factory, an inland container depot (ICD) or a container freight station. |
| Your booking | At least the notice for the factory's travel band (table below) | We confirm the inspector, date and price within 24 hours. |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Before the loading day | Loading after a failed PSI ships the defects. Leave time between the two for rework, or combine them on one day if the lot has passed. |
| Loading day | From the empty container | The inspector must see the container before the first carton goes in. |
| Report | Within 24 hours of the visit | After supervisor review. Container number, seal number and photos are listed first. |
| Monsoon (June to September) | Expect delays; check dryness | Rain stops open-yard loading, and containers and cartons pick up moisture. The inspector checks floors and walls, desiccants, and whether cartons were stored under cover. |
| Diwali (October or November) | Book early and confirm the day before | Many factories try to load before the festival break, so trucks and stuffing slots are in demand and dates move. |
Notice by travel band
Notice runs from your booking to the loading day. Where the factory or depot is outside our base cities, give us as much notice as you can. Check your factory's band on the coverage page.
| Band | Where | Notice | Travel fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | Jodhpur | Same day when an inspector is free, otherwise 1–2 working days | No travel fee |
| Band B | Jaipur, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Delhi NCR or Kolkata, where our other inspectors are based | Same day to 3 working days, depending on the city | US$99 per man-day |
| Band C | Anywhere else in India | Up to 5 working days, depending on distance | Actual travel cost, quoted before you book |
Loading check cost: one container, one man-day
A loading check is priced like any inspection: US$249 per man-day, plus travel by band, report included.
Worked example. An importer ships one 40-foot container of furniture stuffed at a factory in Kolkata, which is in Band B, and wants a pre-shipment inspection the day before:
| Line | Sum | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shipment inspection (day 1) | US$249 + US$99 Band B travel | US$348 |
| Loading supervision (day 2) | US$249 + US$99 Band B travel | US$348 |
| Total before tax | US$696 |
A loading check alone in Jodhpur costs US$249, with no travel fee. When the lot is small and the goods are loaded at the inspected site on the same day, the PSI and the loading can share one man-day; we confirm this before you book. See pricing for all rates.
How export loading works in India
Where loading happens in India
Most export containers are stuffed at the factory or at an inland container depot (ICD) and then railed or trucked to a gateway port such as Mundra or Nhava Sheva. Tell us where stuffing will happen when you book.
Monsoon loading
During the monsoon, containers and cartons pick up moisture quickly. We check container floors and walls, use of desiccants, and whether cartons have been stored under cover.
Mixed loads from several units
Craft orders are often consolidated from several workshops into one container. The inspector checks the cartons from each unit against the packing list, so a short shipment from one supplier is seen before the doors close.
What the inspector does not certify: VGM, wood treatment and fumigation
Under SOLAS regulation VI/2, the shipper must declare a verified gross mass (VGM) for every packed container before it is loaded on a ship. Our inspector records carton counts and weights, but does not issue the VGM. Wood pallets and crates must carry the ISPM 15 mark (see ISPM 15 wood packaging); the inspector photographs the mark but does not treat or certify the wood. Fumigation, where your destination requires it, is done by a licensed fumigator.
For packing and securing practice, the IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code is the usual reference, and containers in international transport carry a safety approval plate under the International Convention for Safe Containers.
The loading report: numbers your forwarder and insurer can use
Cleared to load Hold Not cleared
The report lists the container number, seal number and container type; photos of the empty container (floor, walls, roof and doors); the carton count per style against the packing list; the cartons opened and what was in them; damaged or wet cartons set aside; photos as loading proceeds, from the first row to the closed and sealed doors; and the inspector's notes on stacking, dunnage and desiccants. A shortfall or a packing difference is reported as Hold, for you to decide before the goods sail.
We have not published a loading report. The closest published example is Sample 02, a Jaipur inspection of mirrors and cabinets that records carton and product weights for all 8 styles, the kind of data a loading check repeats at the container door. See all sample reports.
See all sample reports- Sample (ISO 2859-1, level II, code G)
- 31 pcs
- Critical defects
- 0 · zero tolerance
- Major defects (AQL 2.5)
- 0 · accept ≤ 2
- Minor defects (AQL 4.0)
- 2 · accept ≤ 3
- Quantity vs PO
- 181 of 181 offered
- Barcodes
- Scanned · passed
Often booked with container loading supervision
Pre-shipment inspection
A final random check of finished, packed goods before you release payment.
Factory audit
Check a supplier exists, can deliver and meets your standards before you order.
Lab testing coordination
Independent sample pulling and test booking at accredited labs.
Container loading supervision: questions buyers ask
Can you combine loading supervision with a pre-shipment inspection?
Yes, when the goods are inspected and loaded at the same site. If both fit in one working day they share one man-day; otherwise the loading is a second man-day. We confirm before you book.
What if the container is unfit?
The inspector stops loading, records the problem with photos and informs you and your freight forwarder so a replacement can be arranged.
What if the carton count does not match the packing list?
The inspector records the difference by style and tells you before the doors close. You decide whether to load, wait for the missing cartons or change the documents. The report is issued as Hold.
Can you supervise loading at an inland container depot or port?
Yes, anywhere in India. The travel band follows the location of the depot or port. Your forwarder or customs broker arranges the inspector's entry to the facility.
Do you issue the VGM or a fumigation certificate?
No. The shipper declares the verified gross mass, and fumigation is done and certified by a licensed fumigator. Our report records carton counts, weights and photos that support those documents.
Do you provide seal photos?
Yes. Every loading report includes photos of the container number, the closed doors and the seal.
Sources
Checked 14 October 2026.
- IMO: Verification of the gross mass of a packed container (SOLAS regulation VI/2)
- IMO: IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code)
- IMO: International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972
- IPPC: ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade
Know before it ships
Tell us the product, the factory's city and your ready date. We confirm the inspector, the notice time and the price before you book.