A system, apparatus, and method for the rapid inspection of shipping containers during transport and for intelligent data gathering for risk analysis are provided. More specifically, a portal based scanner is disclosed which includes a plurality of sensors positioned to create a target zone so that the shipping containers can be automatically scanned during loading and offloading operations. According to one aspect of the invention, the scanner is capable of wirelessly communicating with the containers, gathering data about each container, and reporting data to a Data Fusion Center for risk profile analysis.