---
title: "How Can I Prevent Customs Exams?"
description: "No guarantee against random customs exams, but risk drops by shipping FCL over LCL, using Flexport's selective in-house LCL service, and participating in CTPAT."
language: en
canonical: https://www.flexport.com/help/customs-exam-prevention/
lifecycle: live
author:
  - "Flexport Editorial"
publishedAt: 2018-01-19T20:44:23.855Z
dateModified: 2026-07-31T03:22:14Z
readingTimeMinutes: 1
topics:
  - "Customs & Compliance"
  - "Simplify Customs"
  - "Customs Brokerage"
  - "Ocean Freight"
---

# How Can I Prevent Customs Exams?

There’s nothing you can do to guarantee that your shipment won’t be pulled for an [X-ray](https://www.flexport.com/glossary/xray-exam/), [Tail Gate](https://www.flexport.com/glossary/tailgate-exam/), or [Intensive](https://www.flexport.com/glossary/intensive-exam/) exam, because U.S. Customs selects shipments at random.

However, it is possible to minimize the risk of a Customs exam by:

- **Shipping FCL instead of LCL**. LCL shipments are more likely to be flagged for X-ray exams than FCL shipments. 

- **If you’re shipping LCL, choose Flexport’s in-house LCL service**. Flexport LCL is selective about what goods are consolidated into an LCL shipment, so if you’re shipping with Flexport LCL, you’ll see a lower rate of inspection and delay. 

- Participating in [CTPAT](https://www.flexport.com/glossary/ctpat/).

---

*This is a markdown version of [https://www.flexport.com/help/customs-exam-prevention/](https://www.flexport.com/help/customs-exam-prevention/) for AI/LLM consumption.*