Brokerage support for freight forwarders
You move the freight. We file the entries — including the ones your usual broker would rather not touch.
Licensed U.S. customs brokerage. Customs broker of record; movement coordinated through vetted partners.
Freight forwarder partnership is an arrangement where a licensed customs broker files entries on behalf of a forwarder's clients while the forwarder retains the commercial relationship. It gives forwarders access to brokerage capability, particularly on regulated commodities, without building a licensed in-house desk.
Key takeaways
- On accounts you introduce, our scope is the customs entry, and that is set out in the terms.
- Regulated commodities are where most forwarder-broker relationships break down.
- A broker who reads the agency requirements avoids the calls that begin with "the container is held".
- Coverage at any U.S. port, since entries are transmitted electronically.
- Terms and communication protocol are agreed in advance, not improvised on the first problem shipment.
Why forwarders call us
Usually because a shipment their regular broker will not handle has appeared — food, supplements, cosmetics, devices — or because one already went wrong and the client is asking questions the forwarder cannot answer.
On accounts you introduce, our scope is the customs entry. We do not approach your clients and we do not quote against you, and that is written into the terms before any work begins — so referring a shipment never puts the account at risk.
How it works in practice
Agreed terms up front, so the commercial position is clear. A named contact rather than a general queue. Direct communication with your client where you want it, or everything routed through you where you would rather. And status information you can pass on without having to chase for it.
How it works
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01
Terms agreed
Scope, rates, communication protocol and who speaks to the client.
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02
Onboarding
Powers of attorney and bonds arranged for the importers involved.
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03
Entries filed
Classification, duty calculation, transmission and agency data as required.
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04
Status shared
In whatever form works for your operation — direct, or through you.
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05
Problems handled
Queries, exams and holds worked without the client hearing about it from the terminal first.
Common mistakes
- Assuming any broker will take regulated cargo. Many decline it, and finding out at arrival is expensive.
- No agreed communication protocol. The first held container is the wrong moment to negotiate one.
- Bond arranged in the wrong name. It must be in the Importer of Record's name, not the forwarder's.
- Documents forwarded unread. A forwarder who spots an obvious gap saves everyone a week.
- Late handover. Entry data at arrival leaves no room to fix anything.
Questions
Will you approach our clients directly?
No. On accounts you introduce, our scope is the customs entry and the commercial relationship stays yours. That is set out in the terms before any work begins, so referring a shipment never puts the account at risk.
Can you handle commodities our current broker declines?
That is usually why forwarders contact us. Food, beverages, supplements, cosmetics, medical devices, OTC products and pet food are the categories most often declined, and they are our specialism.
Which ports do you cover?
All of them. Entries are transmitted electronically, and ground handling is coordinated locally at each gateway.
How do we start?
A conversation about the cargo you are handling and where the friction is. Terms follow from that rather than from a template.
Related
Tell us what you're importing.
Commodity, origin, port and arrival date is enough to start.