What Seal Numbers Show

Seal numbers identify the tamper evident seals placed on trailer or container doors. When the number at delivery matches the number recorded at loading, and the seal is intact, it suggests nobody opened the doors in between. When the number differs or the seal is broken, it raises questions.

A seal does not prove the count was right at loading. It shows only whether the doors stayed closed.

Where Seal Numbers Get Recorded

• On the bill of lading at origin
• On trailer swap or interchange records
• At warehouse gate check in
• On the delivery receipt or receiving report

Each record ties the seal to a time and place. Together they show whether the seal stayed intact from origin to destination.

Checking Seal Numbers at Delivery

Before cutting the seal, compare its number with the bill of lading. Check that it is intact and not tampered with. Photograph it.

Then note the result on the delivery receipt. If the number matches and the seal is intact, write that down. If not, describe the problem before unloading and call the shipper.

When Seal Numbers Do Not Match

A mismatch can have innocent causes, such as a seal replaced during an inspection or a typo on the paperwork. It can also signal tampering or theft.

Either way, record it before opening the doors. Then decide with the shipper whether to accept, inspect or refuse the load.

Seals and Liability

Seal records help decide who answers for a shortage. If a sealed trailer arrives intact but short, the problem may trace back to loading. If the seal is broken, transit becomes a more likely source.

Federal law makes motor carriers generally liable for actual loss or damage in their care. The carrier liability statute covers interstate shipments. Seal records are often key evidence in those claims.

Shipper Load and Count

Some bills of lading say the shipper loaded and counted the freight. With a sealed trailer, that notation means the carrier did not see the count. In that case, an intact seal at delivery points back to the shipper’s loading.

The guide on freight shortages explains how to document missing pieces, and the article on trailer swaps covers seal records at handoffs.

Good Seal Practices

Use seals with unique numbers. Record them in more than one place. Photograph them at loading and delivery. For example, a hypothetical electronics shipper might require seal photos at every stop, giving a clear trail if a load ever arrives short.