Free container loading report template (stuffing report and tally sheet)

Buyers often ask the exporter for a loading report with photos to show that the right goods went into a sound, clean container and were properly secured. This sheet records the container and seal, the checks before packing, a tally of packages against the packing list, how the cargo was secured, the weight and the photos taken, with the names of the loading supervisor and the driver or carrier.

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Container loading report – Example filled in with the free generator (sample data)

What the template covers

Booking, B/L, PO and invoice numbers, loading place, date and start and finish times
Container number, size and type code, seal number, tare and the maximum gross mass on the CSC plate
Checks before packing: suitable type, valid CSC plate, no damage, clean and free of residues, no visible pests
Tally of packages per item against the packing list, with the difference by formula
Securing method (locking, blocking or lashing), dunnage and the ISPM 15 mark on any timber
Cargo weight, total gross mass and whether the VGM has been sent to the carrier
Photo checklist from the empty container to the closed doors and the seal
Remarks, and the names and signatures of the loading supervisor and the driver or carrier

Sources

Guides on this topic

Container packing under the CTU Code: checklist for packers and shippersHow to pack and secure cargo in a container under the IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code: who does what, weight distribution, payload limits, securing, ISPM…VGM (Verified Gross Mass) Explained: SOLAS Rules, Method 1 vs Method 2 and How to Calculate ItWhat the VGM is, who must declare it under SOLAS chapter VI regulation 2, how Method 1 and Method 2 work, a calculation example, signatures and…Is Plywood Exempt from ISPM 15? IPPC Stamp, HT and MB MarksPlywood, OSB and particle board are exempt from ISPM 15, but solid-wood pallets and crates need HT or MB treatment and the IPPC stamp. What each…Container ISO size and type codes: 22G1, 42G1, 45G1, 45R1 explainedWhat the 4-character ISO 6346 size and type code on a container means: 22G1, 42G1, 45G1, 22R1, 45R1, 22U1, 22T1, L5G1, plus how the container…

Checks before packing

The IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) is a non-mandatory code of practice for everyone who packs, secures, receives and unpacks cargo units. Before packing, check that the container suits the cargo, that its CSC Safety Approval Plate is valid, that it is undamaged, clean and free of residues of previous cargo, and that the container and the cargo are free from visible pests inside and outside. Have a packing plan ready that keeps within the payload and puts the centre of gravity in the right place.

Tally, securing and weight

Count the packages as they go in and compare them with the packing list, so that differences are found before the doors close. Spread heavy cargo over the floor, prevent sliding and tipping in every direction by locking, blocking or lashing, and use only ISPM 15 treated and marked timber for dunnage and bracing. Never exceed the payload or the maximum gross mass on the CSC plate or national road limits, and make sure the verified gross mass (VGM) reaches the carrier before the cut-off.

Photos, seal and records

Photos give the buyer and the insurer evidence of the condition of the container and the cargo at loading: the empty container inside and outside, the CSC plate, the cargo at stages of loading, the securing, the closed doors and the seal with its number. Write the same seal number on the report, the packing list and the shipping instructions so that they match the bill of lading. Keep the report with the shipping documents; it helps if loss or damage is found at destination.

Common questions

What is a container loading report?

A record made at loading of the container and seal numbers, the condition of the empty container, the packages loaded against the packing list, how the cargo was secured and the photos taken. Buyers often ask for it with the shipping documents.

Who should sign the loading report?

The person who supervised the loading at the warehouse or factory, and usually the driver or carrier who takes the container, confirming the container and seal numbers.

What photos should be taken during container loading?

The empty container inside and outside, its CSC plate and door markings, the cargo at stages of loading, the securing and dunnage, the closed doors and the seal with its number visible.

Is the CTU Code mandatory?

No. The CTU Code is a non-mandatory global code of practice of the IMO, the ILO and UNECE, but carriers, buyers or national rules may require parts of it, and the VGM requirement under SOLAS is mandatory.

Does the loading report replace the packing list or the VGM declaration?

No. It is a record of the loading. The packing list, the VGM declaration and, where needed, the dangerous goods declaration are separate documents.

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