A tailgate exam is a customs inspection where officers open the doors of a shipping container or trailer and visually inspect the cargo without fully unloading it. It is less intensive than a full container exam but more detailed than a document review. In U.S. import logistics, a tailgate exam may be requested by customs authorities to check cargo condition, packaging, seals, marks, or visible discrepancies before deciding whether the shipment can be released or needs further inspection.
A Tail Gate Exam (also called a tailgate exam) is a CBP customs examination where officers open the rear doors of a container at the port terminal and inspect the cargo visible at the back without fully unloading the container. It is less disruptive than an intensive exam.
- Conducted at the terminal without moving the container to a CES
- CBP officers visually inspect the rear cargo section
- May result in escalation to a more thorough intensive exam if anomalies are found
- Faster and less expensive than a full CES intensive exam
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on Customs Exam, Intensive Exam, X-Ray Exam, and CES.
