To become a cargo inspector, you can apply for a job with the government, military, or private cargo inspection service. Qualifications include a high school education, criminal justice training, and field work experience. Inspectors check shipped content for accuracy and accountability, and military experience can be beneficial.
You can become a cargo inspector by qualifying and applying for a job with the government, the military or a private cargo inspection service. Qualifications required to become a cargo inspector include a high school education, but completion of a two- or four-year degree program is preferred. Government-based cargo inspection jobs may prefer candidates to possess some form of criminal justice education or training. Cargo inspector jobs in the military come with their own set of qualifications and training as they require you to join the military for a contracted period of time.
Inspecting cargo for the government or the military is a task that requires you to board boats, trains and trucks to inspect the contents that are shipped to ensure they meet the necessary regional regulations. Private cargo inspection companies are hired by companies to check shipped content and to verify that everything is listed and paid for. Large amounts of goods are shipped by land and sea routes at home and abroad every day. Every load has the chance to be inspected by an inspector, both for accuracy and accountability reasons. Companies that pay to ship goods from one point to another can never actually see the final product before it’s sold, so they rely on cargo inspection companies to provide shipment inspection services along the way.
Some jobs may require field work experience to become a cargo inspector. You can start a cargo inspection career by looking for an entry-level position in the government or with a private company. Government-based cargo inspection jobs are usually found working for regional police departments, port authorities, transportation departments and railway stations. A criminal justice background can provide an advantage in the application process to become a government cargo inspector, because the job requires boarding ships and trucks to look for contraband and unauthorized shipments.
The military uses cargo inspectors to check ships and trucks in domestic and overseas operations. Surveyors working for the military inspect boats and vehicles for illegal weapons, immigration and general content checks. You can become a cargo inspector for the military by following traditional regional enlistment standards and qualifications, then applying for the specific position or job classification. Military experience is a good way to become a cargo inspector as it gives you several years of experience working directly on the same type of tasks required to perform tasks.
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