Examination / inspection
Cannot be quoted in advance, but must be evidenced: an exam notice plus the exam-site receipt.
What it is calculated on
At the amount actually paid to a third party, evidenced by a receipt.
What it appears as on real documents
Providers write the same charge many different ways. All of these mean this charge:
- examination
- exam fee
- customs exam
- inspection
- inspection fee
- vacis
- x-ray exam
- intensive exam
- tailgate exam
- cbsa exam
- cbp exam
- container examination
- exam site fee
- registration fee exam
What settles it when you question it
This is money your provider advanced to somebody else on your behalf. They cannot quote a third party's fee in advance, so comparing it to your quotation is the wrong test. The right one is a receipt: the amount charged should match the amount actually paid, plus any advancement fee stated separately.
Ask for:
- Customs examination notice
- Third-party receipt for the advanced amount
- Government receipt or payment confirmation
- Line-by-line calculation breakdown
Before you book
This cannot be quoted in advance, because the amount is not your provider's to set. What you can pin down is how it will be billed and what evidence you will be given.
Ask: Ask what an examination typically costs on this lane and confirm it will be billed at cost with the exam notice and site receipt attached.
Check a examination / inspection on your own invoice
Free, and no account needed to start.
Upload your quotation and final invoice. ChargeBasis pairs every charge on its normalised type rather than its wording, reports which part of the difference your documents actually explain, and names the document that would settle the rest.
Charges that travel with this one
- Customs clearanceThe broker's own service fee — distinct from the duties and taxes they advance.
- Duties and taxesGovernment money advanced on your behalf. Should reconcile to the customs entry to the cent.
- StorageDay-counted. Needs a start date, a free-time allowance, and an end date to be checkable.
- DemurrageContainer sitting inside the terminal past free time. Requires availability date, last free day, and gate-out …
Common questions
- What is a examination / inspection on a freight invoice?
- Cannot be quoted in advance, but must be evidenced: an exam notice plus the exam-site receipt.
- What is a examination / inspection calculated on?
- At the amount actually paid to a third party, evidenced by a receipt.
- What should I ask for if I question a examination / inspection?
- Ask for customs examination notice, third-party receipt for the advanced amount, government receipt or payment confirmation, line-by-line calculation breakdown. This is money the provider advanced on your behalf, so the test is a receipt rather than a quoted rate.