Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Flexclearing provides U.S. customs brokerage and inland logistics. Services include import customs clearance, port and airport pickup, container drayage, warehousing when a shipment needs it, LTL and FTL freight transportation, and final delivery. You can use one service, or combine customs clearance and delivery into a single workflow.

Yes. Flexclearing can coordinate customs clearance and delivery on the same shipment, from entry filing through pickup, any required warehousing, and inland transportation to the final U.S. address. The exact scope depends on the cargo, the arrival gateway, and where the freight needs to go.

Yes. Customs brokerage can stand alone if you already have a trucker or a warehouse. Pickup, drayage, storage, and delivery can be added only if you need them. Tell us which part of the move you want Flexclearing to handle, and we will quote that scope.

Yes. We work with U.S. importers, freight forwarders, and overseas logistics companies. A forwarder can keep control of the shipment and use Flexclearing for U.S. customs clearance, pickup, or inland delivery. An importer can also work with our customs broker team directly.

We coordinate air and ocean imports through major U.S. gateways. Whether a specific port or airport can be handled depends on the shipment. Send the arrival gateway, and we will confirm if we can take the customs clearance, pickup, or delivery before you book.

Customs Clearance

Most entries need a commercial invoice, a packing list, and the transport document: a bill of lading for ocean freight or an air waybill for air freight. Some cargo also needs permits, product details, or other agency data before CBP can release it. Send the file before arrival so gaps can be reviewed early.

ISF, or Importer Security Filing, applies to most ocean cargo bound for the United States. Most required data is due no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded aboard the vessel overseas; some data has a later deadline. ISF is separate from the customs entry and does not apply to air freight. We can assist when the shipment data is complete.

A customs bond is a financial guarantee filed with CBP for most commercial imports. A single-entry bond covers one shipment. A continuous bond covers imports over a longer period. Whether you need one depends on the entry. We can help arrange the customs bond that fits that shipment.

There is no fixed release time. A complete entry can move quickly, but missing documents, a CBP exam, or another agency hold can add days. We file the entry, track the status, and tell you what is blocking release. Flexclearing does not guarantee a clearance time or a CBP release.

The importer of record is responsible for duties, taxes, and fees assessed by CBP. Those government charges are separate from the customs brokerage service fee. The amount depends on the HTS classification, the customs value, and any special duty program that applies. We can review the charges before they are paid.

Yes. We can support import customs clearance for FDA-regulated goods and for shipments that may be subject to antidumping or countervailing duties. Those entries need product-specific data, and the rules are not the same for every commodity. We review the cargo first. We do not guarantee FDA clearance or a duty result.

Pickup & Transportation

Yes. After customs release, we can coordinate pickup from the seaport, the airport cargo terminal, or the CFS holding the freight. Ocean containers and air cargo are picked up differently. Send the arrival notice, the terminal, and the ready time so the pickup can be arranged.

Port drayage is the short truck move of an ocean container, usually between the port or rail ramp and a warehouse or a nearby address. It is not the same as airport pickup. Air freight moves by local truck from the airline terminal or CFS, without a container chassis.

Yes. For ocean full-container loads, we can coordinate port pickup, container drayage, chassis, and container return. A pre-pull can be arranged when terminal or delivery timing requires it. Availability depends on the port, the container status, and the delivery address.

LTL shipping, or less-than-truckload, shares trailer space and fits palletized freight that does not need its own truck. FTL shipping, or full truckload, assigns one truck to a larger shipment or to freight that should not be transferred. We recommend one after we know the size, weight, and destination.

Yes. Final delivery can go to a warehouse, a distribution center, a commercial facility, or another U.S. business address. An Amazon or FBA destination can be included when that location accepts the freight. Appointment rules depend on the consignee, so we confirm the address before the truck is booked.

Warehousing & Final Delivery

Warehousing and distribution support is available when a shipment needs it. Not every load has to enter a warehouse. We can coordinate receiving, short-term storage, pallet handling, and staging before the next truck. Whether storage is available depends on the cargo, the location, and the timing.

Yes, when direct delivery is not practical. Typical cases include a consignee that is not ready, a delivery appointment that is still pending, a transfer from drayage to another truck, or LCL freight that needs handling after CFS pickup. We confirm storage before the cargo is moved.

Yes. Customs release does not have to be the end of the move. Once the freight is available, Flexclearing can coordinate pickup and transportation to the final U.S. destination, with warehousing in between if needed. The plan depends on the terminal, the cargo, and the delivery address.

We need the delivery address, a contact name and phone number, the cargo description, piece count, weight, and any receiving or appointment rules. If the freight is still at a port or airport, include the terminal and available release details. We confirm cargo availability and carrier capacity before scheduling pickup and delivery.

Pricing & Getting Started

Customs brokerage pricing depends on the entry, the cargo, and the work required. A standard filing and an entry with exams, partner-agency data, or several classifications are not priced the same way. CBP duties and taxes are separate from our service fee. Send the documents and we will quote the scope.

Besides brokerage, a shipment may include CBP duties and fees, exam costs, terminal or CFS charges, chassis and port drayage, waiting time, warehousing, and LTL or FTL freight transportation. Not every shipment incurs every charge. We separate quoted services from government and third-party charges when preparing the estimate.

Send the arrival port or airport, the commercial invoice and packing list if available, the bill of lading or air waybill, the cargo type, weight and volume, and the ETA. Include the final U.S. destination if you need pickup, storage, or delivery. Tell us which services you want quoted.

Send the shipment details through the contact form. We review the arrival gateway, the documents, and the delivery plan, then reply with the services we can handle and a quote. You can start with a customs broker for the entry only, and add inland transportation if the shipment needs it.