Ever wonder how businesses get their supplies and products from Mexico to the United States? Your business can save money by making sure your freight carrier is savvy about the border crossing and won’t waste your time and money making mistakes with customs. When hiring a freight company ask them the following questions:
1. Do you have your International Carrier Bond on file?
Your trucking company should have an International Carrier bond. In order to have that, they must have contacted a Surety that has been approved by the government. The Surety must be able to write Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bonds on a specific Customs and Border Protection Form, which is CBP Form 301. The Customs and Border Protection Department provides a link for carriers to find an approved surety. Once the bond has been secured, the trucking company can then file the bond at the port their trucks usually pass through.
2. Is all the appropriate paperwork complete?
We all know the government likes it paperwork, and the CBP is certainly no exception to that rule. It’s good to have a freight company with experience in working with the CBP. One important step that experienced companies will take is to call the port prior to your materials arriving. That phone call can make sure that all the paperwork has been taken care of. Leaving paperwork verification until your truck company actually wants to pass through the port will almost certainly cause shipping delays.
A good freight company should know exactly what paperwork is necessary. Each shipment that crosses the border needs a Proof of Bond, Commercial Invoice or Bill of Sale. The CBP may also require a federal government-issued permit and immigrations documentation. Make sure these are done in a timely manner.
There are materials that should be submitted electronically, as well. The company will also know when they don’t have to submit information. For example, if you are shipping household effects for a client with a Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles form CBP 3299, you don’t have to submit an advanced cargo information form electronically.
3. Do any of your drivers have convictions?
A DUI may cause issues for your freight driver. Depending on the severity of the infraction, circumstances of that infraction, the CBP could deny entry into the United States. One conviction probably won’t cause the CBP to make the driver not enter the US, but if there are a number of offenses or those offenses are of a serious criminal nature, the driver can be denied.
And, if the driver is denied entry into the US, your shipment will also be denied. That means delays and complications for you. No business owner wants or needs that.
Originally posted on April 11, 2015 @ 1:28 pm