1. Undercarriage
The undercarriage should be visibly inspected prior to the trailer’s entry into our facility.
All the support beams should be visible. Wheels and tires should look normal.
If anything seems unusual about the trailer’s undercarriage, report this problem to your supervisor.
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2. Outside/Inside Doors
Inspect both the inside and outside of the trailer’s doors (or the container’s doors if working with a shipping container).
The doors should have secure and reliable locking mechanisms, and they should not have loose bolts.
Be suspicious of different color bonding materials and unusual plates or repairs.
Plates should not cover door cavities.
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3. Right Side
Investigate the right side wall.
Look for any unusual repairs to structural beams.
Use a tool to tap the side walls. Listen and feel for a hollow sound.
Any major repairs to the walls on the inside of the trailer should be visible on the outside, too.
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4. Left Side
Investigate the left side wall.
Look for any unusual repairs to structural beams.
Use a tool to tap the side walls. Listen and feel for a hollow sound.
Any major repairs to the walls on the inside of the trailer should be visible on the outside, too.
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5. Front Wall
Use a range finder, measuring tape, or string to determine the length of the trailer.
Blocks and vents must be visible and several inches apart. All the vent holes should be visible.
Use a tool to tap the front wall. Listen and feel for a hollow sound.
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6. Ceiling/Roof
The ceiling is a certain standard distance from the floor. Blocks and vents must be visible.
Repairs to the ceiling on the inside of the trailer should be visible on the outside.
Use a tool to tap the ceiling. Listen for a hollow sound.
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7. Floor
The floor should be flat and uniform with no raised platforms.
Be suspicious of any unusual repairs, bad repairs, and bad welding.