Broker – Freight Forwarder

Questions and answers about Broker/Freight Forwarders

  • DIRECT CARRIER CONTRACTS

    We are a medium size import company, bringing in many different types of consumer goods from China.  We use many different vendors and they are constantly changing.  (no food) Currently we utilize one Freight Broker to coordinate our shipments which are all FOB port in China. Our management would like to work directly with the […]

  • 3461 FOR CUSTOMS ENTRY

    It is my understanding that the entry process requires the completion of CBP Forms 3461 and 7501 and that our service providers should be providing my company with both. We receive both from the majority of our service providers however, there is one telling us they have only one port that uses the 3461. Have […]

  • CUSTOMS SUB POA

    Our customs broker is trying to have us, a resident U.S. importer, sign a letter autorizing issuance of a POA to a Correspondent Customs Broker located in a different Customs district. My concern is the restriction in Sec.141.43(a) CFR19. The broker disagrees referring to a “Broker A – Broker B principal” scenario allowed by C.S.D. […]

  • BROKER REPORT CARD

    Question: This year we would like to begin a Broker Report Card to better manage thebroker.  Can anyone offer some suggestions how to best capture the data?  Myfirst thought is Access but am open to suggestions.

  • Are Broker’s Becoming Extinct (addt’l answers)

    Add’l answer: Full disclosure: I’m a customs broker.  Therefore, I have a bias towardsanswering this question.  However, let me try to respond to it using data andrecent trends, rather than just my own opinion, to answer the question. But first, here is my initial response to your issue.  If your broker is themajor cause of […]

  • Are Customs Broker’s Extinct?

    Question:I’m the compliance manager at a US importer. This is a loaded question and I ask it in all seriousness and mean no disrespect. Are customs brokers on the verge of extinction? Customs brokers have been, in my experience, the single biggest source of errors in my entry process, they add little or nothing of […]

  • RESTRICTIONS FOR US BROKERS

    Question: We are a US based company with multiple facilities   including 2 in Canada.  Our compliance team is very small and includes one licensed US Customs broker.  Associates in one of our Canadian facilities have requested that our LCB assist them with some customs issues (exporting from Canada, importing into US). Our LCB advised that […]

  • BROKER/ MEMBER POLICIES

    Question:I am currently working to develop a Corporate Broker/Forwarder Policy, and am not sure if I should just include these elements into my Global Import Policy since Brokers and Forwarders deal with so much more than just imports.  Can the membership share with me their preferences and what you include in your Policy?  and if […]

  • BROKER PERFORMANCE METRIC

    Question: Does anyone out there have a Customs Brokers Performance Metric Worksheet toshare. I want a basic worksheet for entries performed, % completed correctlyafter our audit against and then chart the progress each month in a graphform etc..