A receiving inspection app that checks every inbound load the same way
Seal, count, condition, damage and signatures, in the right order on a phone or tablet. AI flags damage in each photo and the receiver confirms it. Every load ends as one record you can search, report on and send as a claims packet.
Free plan: 50 inspections a month, no credit card. Get the free receiving inspection checklist.
The receiving inspection checklist
What to check on every inbound load, in the order it happens at the door. CargoLens runs these as workflow steps; the printable version is free below.
1. Before the doors open
- Match the trailer and seal number to the BOL; photograph the seal
- Check the seal is intact; note it if it is broken or missing
- Reefer loads: photograph the set point and the actual temperature
2. Doors open
- Photograph the load as it stands, nose to tail, before anything moves
- Look for load shift, leaning stacks, crushed or wet cases, failed wrap
- Note where in the trailer any damage sits: nose, middle or tail
3. Unloading and count
- Count pallets and cases against the BOL and purchase order
- Record shortage and overage counts, not just "count off"
- Photograph each damaged pallet or case close up, with the label visible
- Record the SKU, lot and quantity of every damaged item
4. Before the driver leaves
- Write every exception on the delivery receipt, and keep a copy
- Decide: accept, accept with exception, partial refusal or refusal
- Get the receiver and driver signatures
5. After
- Send the photos and notice to the carrier or vendor
- Check broken-down pallets for concealed damage and report it quickly
- Log the exception so damage can be tracked by carrier and origin
Printable checklist
The same checklist on one page, plus an OS&D report form for the loads that do not match.
Free to use and change. No sign-up needed.
One receiving inspection, from the live demo
A real record from the CargoLens live demo (sample data). The receiver photographed a pallet with a torn bag; this is what the manager sees in the web portal moments after the inspection syncs.
1. The photo is checked as it is taken
On Pro, AI looks at each photo for visible damage to the freight, packaging or pallet and suggests the damage type. The receiver confirms or clears it while the driver is still at the door.
2. Damaged items go on issue lines
Each damaged item gets its own line with SKU, batch, quantity, the issue and photos. That is what lets you report damage by product later, not just by load.
3. Someone owns the follow-up
A flagged load creates a follow-up task for a manager at the site, so the carrier notice does not wait on memory.
4. One record for the whole load
Trailer, seal, BOL, counts, damage, issue lines, where in the trailer the damage was, the receiving decision and both signatures, in one place. Export it as a PDF claims packet or download it as CSV.
Built for the receiving dock
Works with no signal
The whole inspection runs on the device and syncs when the connection returns. Dock doors are where WiFi drops out.
Scan instead of type
Scan SKU and lot from the case label; a GS1 label fills both from one scan. On Pro, AI reads the BOL or packing slip photo into the PO, BOL, carrier and count fields for the receiver to check.
English and Spanish
Each receiver can work in the language they read best, in the same app and the same workflow.
Phones and tablets you have
Android and iOS, phone or tablet. No towers or fixed cameras to install before you start.
Receiving is one of the ready-made workflows. Outbound, container inbound, transload, yard and gate, reefer and hazmat checks run in the same app: see cargo inspection software.
Published pricing, per site
Every receiver, lead and manager at a site is included. No per-seat fees.
Pro
Unlimited users and inspections, AI damage flags, AI paperwork reading, custom workflows, reports and claims packets. $749 month to month.
Book a 15-min demoCommon questions
What is a receiving inspection?
A receiving inspection is the check a warehouse makes on each inbound load before accepting it: the seal and trailer, the count against the BOL and purchase order, the condition of the freight, and any damage, overage or shortage. The result is a signed record that supports claims and tells purchasing and quality what arrived.
What should a receiving inspection checklist include?
Seal and trailer check, photos of the load before unloading, counts against the paperwork, shortage and overage, damage photos with type and location, the SKU, lot and quantity of damaged items, the receiving decision, exceptions written on the delivery receipt, and signatures. The free checklist on this page lists each one by stage.
Can I build my own receiving inspection in CargoLens?
Yes. Start from the ready-made Receiving and Count Verification workflow, or build your own in Workflow Studio on Pro: the steps, the required photos, the fields, the order and the conditions that show or hide a question.
Does the receiving app work offline?
Yes. CargoLens is offline-first. A receiver can complete the whole inspection with no signal, photos included. It syncs to the web portal when the connection returns. AI checks need a connection, so on an offline dock they run after the inspection syncs.
Can receivers scan barcodes?
Yes. Fields such as SKU and lot can be scanned from the case label, and a GS1 label fills both from one scan. Container number, seal and license plate fields can be scanned too in the container and yard workflows.
Is the app available in Spanish?
Yes. Receivers can use CargoLens in English or Spanish, so the whole crew can work in the same app.
What does it cost?
Free covers 50 inspections a month and 2 team members. Pro is $599 per site per month billed annually ($749 month to month) with unlimited users, so every receiver at a site is included.
CargoLens at a glance
- What it is
- CargoLens is a dock inspection app with AI damage detection on photos. Receivers document each load on a phone or tablet (iOS and Android), and managers review records, reports and exports in a web portal.
- Who it is for
- Receiving and shipping teams at warehouses, distribution centers, 3PLs, cross-docks and manufacturers that receive goods from their own plants.
- Key capabilities
- AI damage detection: AI flags visible damage in each photo and the receiver confirms or clears it (Pro, needs a connection)
- Issue lines on each load with SKU, batch, quantity, the issue and photos
- Reports by origin plant, carrier, site, SKU and batch, plus a weekly plant report email
- Container number, seal number and license plate capture, with an ISO 6346 check on container numbers
- OCR with AI: reads BOLs, packing slips, container numbers, seals and plates from photos into fields the user confirms (Pro, needs a connection)
- Offline capture at the dock, with automatic sync when the connection returns
- App in English and Spanish
- Public REST API and signed webhooks
- CSV, Excel and PDF exports, including a PDF claims packet per inspection
- Unlimited users on paid plans: priced per site, not per seat
- Pricing
- Free: 50 inspections a month, 2 users, no credit card. Pro: $599 per site per month billed annually, or $749 month to month, unlimited users. One-site 30-day pilot: $2,500, credited in full to year one. All plans
- Company
- CargoLens by Sentria Inc., Puyallup, Washington, USA.
- Not to be confused with
- CargoLens (cargolens.app) is the dock inspection app by Sentria Inc. It is not affiliated with other companies or products that use a similar name.
More guides for receiving teams
OS&D app
Record over, short and damaged freight at the door, with a free OS&D form template.
Read the guideInbound damage reporting
Damage rates by carrier, plant, lane and site, with the metrics explained.
Read the guideDamage by SKU and batch
Issue lines with SKU, batch and quantity, and reports that trace damage to the line.
Read the guideRun your next receiving inspection in CargoLens
A 15-minute walkthrough mapped to your receiving process, or start free and inspect your next load today.