Free Cargo Seal Log

Stop and document it immediately: the checkpoint, the discrepancy, the time, and who was notified — don't continue the route and log it retroactively, because that gap is exactly what a chain-of-custody record is meant to prevent. Notify dispatch and, depending on the cargo and your policy, the shipper or consignee before the load continues.

Every handoff where the trailer changes hands or custody — driver swaps, border crossings, any stop where the trailer is out of the driver's direct control — needs a verification. Logging only origin and delivery means a break anywhere in between is invisible, which defeats the purpose of tracking seals in the first place.

It depends on the cargo, the shipper's requirements, and any regulatory or customs program the shipment moves under — not every load requires a security seal. Where it isn't mandated, many shippers still require it contractually for high-value or sensitive freight, so check the shipping instructions rather than assuming based on cargo type alone.

A broken seal was applied and later tampered with or failed — evidence something happened in transit. A missing seal means either it was never applied, which is a process failure at origin, or it fell off, which needs investigating for how. Log which one occurred, because they point to different causes and different next steps.