Certified Remote Inspections

Remote Tailgate Inspections

Certified tailgate inspections, completed fully remotely. Upload photos or video — our inspectors verify CTU, ISO and IMDG compliance within 1 hour

ISO    CTU Code    IMDG compliant
1h Guaranteed turnaround

The Importance of Tailgate Inspections

Cargo verification doesn’t have to slow your shipments down. A tailgate inspection is one of the fastest ways to confirm that what’s inside the container matches the documentation, and is secured correctly. Nordwatch makes the entire process remote, documented, and complete in under a day.

If you’re moving imported goods across borders, a missed detail at the container doors can mean delays at the port, customs exams, or worse.

We help you catch those issues before they ever reach a customs officer.

The remote difference

What Is a Tailgate Inspection?

A tailgate inspection, sometimes called a tail gate exam, is a visual verification performed at the rear of a shipping container. Inspectors open the container doors and conduct a visual examination of the cargo at the back of the load to confirm that the goods, quantities, and documentation align.

In customs operations, tailgate exams are commonly conducted by border protection authorities, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), at the port of entry or at a centralized examination station (CES).

They are typically performed on high-risk shipments flagged by intelligence or risk-based targeting.

If issues are found at the tail gate, the shipment may be moved for further inspection, including an x ray exam or a full unpacking and physical examination.

1h

Guaranteed turnaround

100%

CTU · ISO · IMDG aligned
Global
Inspect from anywhere

1 free

Revision included

The remote difference

Four steps to a compliance certificate

1
Upload documentation
Clients upload clear images or video to the Nordwatch online cargo survey platform — showing cargo arrangement, securing techniques, lashing points and container markings.
2
Expert review
Nordwatch’s certified inspectors immediately evaluate the submission against rigorous standards — ISO container inspection criteria, the CTU Code and IMDG compliance.
3
Certificate or feedback

Within 1 hour, Nordwatch issues a full inspection report and a digital compliance certificate if all standards are met — or detailed feedback highlighting necessary corrections.

4
Free revision
Clients get one complimentary revision to rectify any issues promptly, ensuring the cargo is fully compliant before shipment.

Why remote tailgate

Compliance without the inspector on site

Cost-effective
Eliminating inspector travel significantly reduces inspection costs.
Rapid feedback

Digital inspections deliver results within 1 hour, accelerating cargo readiness.

Avoid port rejections
Early detection and correction prevent costly delays and port rejections.
Global access
Clients worldwide can access inspections without logistical constraints.

Who it’s for

Who Benefits from Remote Tailgate Inspections?

A clean container stowage is the difference between a shipment that arrives on time and one that sits at the port racking up fees. Nordwatch’s remote tailgate service is built for the teams across the supply chain who carry that responsibility every day.

Our remote tailgate inspections are designed for:

Importers and Exporters: Verify that every shipment matches its documentation before it leaves the loading site.
Customs Brokers: Provide clients with proof of pre-shipment verification to support smoother clearance and release.
Freight Forwarders and Logistics Providers: Reduce the rate of problems and avoid costly delays at the port of entry.
Dangerous Goods Shippers: Confirm that hazardous or dangerous materials are correctly packed, labeled, and documented before the container is sealed.
If your shipment is moving across borders, a remote tailgate inspection gives you a documented, third-party verification that the cargo is exactly what you say it is.

Differentiating Tailgate from Other Inspections

Differentiating Tailgate from Other Inspections

Tailgate is one of several remote inspections we run — pick the depth your shipment needs.
Vanning
Comprehensive assessment inside containers, verifying securing, lashing and documentation.
Tailgate
Quick visual checks from container doors, ensuring basic cargo arrangement and correct placarding.
Dangerous Goods
Verification of dangerous goods cargo, ensuring correct documentation, marking, and compliance.
Flatrack
Specialized inspection ensuring correct lashing and securing of cargo on open flatrack containers.

Benefits of choosing compliance

Why Choose Nordwatch?

Choosing the right inspection partner shapes everything from how fast your cargo clears customs to how much you spend getting it there.

Nordwatch combines maritime expertise, certified inspectors, and a fully digital platform to deliver verification that holds up wherever your cargo is headed.

Here’s what sets our method apart:

Rapid 1-Hour Turnaround: Detailed reports delivered within 60 minutes, not a week.
No Travel, No Mobilization Fees: Inspections completed remotely from any port or country.
Certified Maritime Specialists: Inspectors trained in CTU Code, IMDG, ISO guidelines, and international shipping regulations.
Built for Logistics: Nordwatch solutions are designed specifically for the maritime industry, with reference materials, intuitive uploads, and clear status updates at every step.
Certified inspectors · rigorous standards
When customs authorities, shipping lines, and your own clients see a Nordwatch certificate, they see proof that the cargo has already been verified by a trusted third party.

Don’t Wait for a Customs Hold Encounter

Once a container is flagged for further inspection, your options shrink and your costs climb. The smarter move is to verify the load before it ships, so issues can be corrected at the source rather than discovered at the port.

Get your tailgate inspection completed remotely, in under 1 hour, with full documentation and a compliance certificate ready to share with your insurance provider or customer.