Head-and-Tail (Sandwich) Coil Loading
Containers are loaded with compliant material at the front and back, while substandard or short-weight coils are hidden in the middle.
How the scam works
- 1.Inspector or buyer photo-checks the visible, accessible coils at the door.
- 2.Genuine, in-spec product sits only at the head and tail of the container.
- 3.The center is filled with off-grade, rusted, or short-weight material.
- 4.Discrepancy is discovered only after full unloading at destination.
Red flags to watch for
- Supplier insists on loading without a full container-stuffing inspection.
- Weight tickets and packing lists don't reconcile with theoretical weight.
- Pressure to accept 'door photos' instead of full loading supervision.
How to protect yourself
- Require a full container-loading supervision (CLS) report with timestamps.
- Weigh a sample of coils and reconcile against the packing list.
- Use an inspector who photographs every layer during stuffing.
In depth
The head-and-tail, or sandwich, scam works because most buyers only ever see photos of the container door. Compliant coils or bundles are stacked at the door and the back wall, while substandard, rusted, or short-weight material fills the middle where no door photo can reach. The shipment looks flawless on arrival photos, and the problem only emerges during unloading — often after the balance has already been paid.
The fix is to remove the hiding place. Full container-loading supervision puts an inspector at the container during stuffing, photographing each layer with timestamps as it is loaded and reconciling counts and weights against the packing list in real time. For any product where hidden quality or quantity is a risk, treat loading supervision as mandatory rather than optional.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
- What is the head-and-tail loading scam?
- Compliant coils are placed at the front and back of the container while substandard, rusted, or short-weight material is hidden in the middle. Door photos look perfect, and the problem is only found after full unloading at destination.
- How do I prevent short-weight or sandwich-loaded steel?
- Require full container-loading supervision (CLS) with timestamped photos of every layer, weigh a sample of coils, and reconcile actual weights against the packing list before authorising the balance payment.
Real cases
Compliant doors, off-grade core
Door photos looked perfect. After unloading, the center coils were rusted and 12% under the declared weight across the container.
Galvalume sandwich
Head and tail coils met the AZ150 spec, but the middle coils tested 60-75% below it. The supplier-arranged 'inspection' only checked the two accessible coils.
Worried this is happening to you?
Run your supplier through the structured verification checklist.