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Get a quoteLogistics for Customs Brokers
Bonded moves, arrival reporting and bonded storage that keep your clients' in-bonds and entries on track.
Logistics for customs brokers and their clients
Good logistics for customs brokers comes down to a physical partner who handles in-bond cargo exactly as the paperwork says. Your filings are only as clean as the pickup, the seal check, the arrival report and the receiving count behind them, and a single missed step can turn into an irregular delivery on a client's shipment.
We hold bonded carrier authority and operate a CBP customs-bonded warehouse in Long Beach, close to both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. We do not file customs entries; you do. Our job is to move, report, store and release your clients' freight so that your entries, warehouse entries and withdrawals line up with what actually happened.
Who does what on a bonded shipment
A clear split of responsibilities prevents most in-bond and warehouse problems.
| Task | Customs broker | National Freight & Drayage |
|---|---|---|
| In-bond application in ACE (IT, T&E or IE) | Files, naming us as bonded carrier and our FIRMS code where we are the destination | Confirms destination and seal data before pickup |
| Terminal release and appointment | Clears customs-related holds | Checks line and terminal holds, books appointment, assigns chassis |
| Seal verification | Corrects the in-bond record if needed | Verifies the seal at the gate and stops on any mismatch |
| Arrival report | Receives confirmation | Reports arrival in ACE within two business days with the FIRMS code |
| Warehouse entry (type 21) | Files within 15 calendar days of arrival | Provides arrival date and received counts |
| Manipulation permit (Form 3499) | Supports the client's request to CBP | Describes the proposed work and performs it once approved |
| Withdrawals (consumption, export, transfer) | Files each withdrawal | Releases exactly the withdrawn quantity and ships it |
| Delivery after release | Notifies us of release | Delivers by drayage, FTL, LTL or transload |
How our in-bond trucking for brokers works
- Our own bond on the move. In-bond pickups from Long Beach and Los Angeles terminals run under our bonded carrier authority, so your filing names one carrier from gate to destination.
- Data checked before dispatch. We compare the in-bond's destination, FIRMS code, container and seal numbers against the booking and call you before the truck rolls if anything is off.
- Arrival reported promptly. We report arrival in ACE inside the two-business-day window in 19 CFR 18.1(j) and send you the arrival time, which starts your 15-day clock.
- Our own chassis. We run 20', 40' and triaxle chassis, so in-bond pickups do not wait on a pool chassis.
- Fast routing after release. Once you release the freight, it can go out by port drayage, full truckload, LTL or transloading without a new provider.
Bonded storage for your clients
Our customs-bonded warehouse gives your clients a place to hold goods under a warehouse entry for up to five years from importation.
- Receipts reconciled to the entry number on arrival, with discrepancies reported promptly
- Inventory tracked by entry and lot in our warehouse management system with barcoding
- Partial withdrawals released in the exact quantities you file
- Handling under bond, such as sorting or repacking, once CBP approves a Form 3499 permit
- Export withdrawals returned to the port or moved toward the border under bond
- Aging entries flagged to you well before the five-year warehouse period ends
Situations where brokers call us
| Client situation | What we do |
|---|---|
| Entry held for a missing document with free time ending | Pull the container in bond into our warehouse so the client stops paying terminal storage while you finish the entry |
| Client wants to defer duty on slow-selling goods | Receive goods under your warehouse entry and release them on each withdrawal you file |
| Cargo sold to a foreign buyer before release | Carry it under your T&E or IE, or hold it in bonded storage until the export withdrawal |
| LCL consolidation with multiple house bills | Receive the in-bond at our Long Beach container freight station and release each house bill as you clear it |
| Goods need marking corrections before entry | Remark under bond once CBP approves the manipulation permit |
Where logistics for customs brokers goes wrong, and how we prevent it
Most in-bond and warehouse problems a broker has to explain to CBP start with a physical step, not a filing. These are the ones we build our process around.
| Problem | Effect on the broker | Our control |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival not reported within two business days | Irregular delivery on an in-bond you filed | Arrival reported in ACE by us, with confirmation sent to you |
| Cargo delivered to a facility other than the in-bond destination | Amendment, diversion or a liquidated damages claim | Destination and FIRMS code checked at intake, direct delivery only |
| Seal mismatch discovered after pickup | Data discrepancy and a possible exam | Seal verified at the gate; truck holds until you confirm |
| Counts at receiving differ from the entry | Warehouse entry and inventory do not reconcile | Counts reconciled to your entry at receipt and reported to you promptly |
| Warehouse entry date missed | Goods drift toward general order | Arrival notice states the start of the 15-day window |
| Repacking without an approved permit | Compliance issue for the client and proprietor | No manipulation under bond until a Form 3499 permit is approved |
What to look for in a customs broker trucking partner
- Its own custodial bond and bonded carrier authority, not a subcontracted bonded move
- A named process and person for arrival reporting, with confirmations sent to you
- A stop-and-call rule for seal and data mismatches at the gate
- Bonded storage under the same roof, so custody does not change hands
- Receiving counts reconciled against your entry, with photos of damage or overages
- Status updates you can forward to the importer without rewriting them
Where we work
We pick up in-bond freight at both San Pedro Bay ports. See bonded drayage in Long Beach and bonded drayage from the Port of Los Angeles for local detail, and our Long Beach bonded warehouse for storage. For a refresher you can share with clients, our in-bond shipments guide and what is a bonded warehouse explain the rules in plain language. We also work with freight forwarders and importers directly.
Frequently asked questions
Do you file in-bond applications or customs entries?
We do not file customs entries; your licensed customs broker does. In-bond applications are usually filed by the broker naming us as bonded carrier. We report arrival in ACE as the bonded carrier and keep you informed.
Can your warehouse hold goods for my client while the entry is prepared?
Yes. Goods can come in under bond and be held in our customs-bonded warehouse until you file the warehouse entry, which is due within 15 calendar days of in-bond arrival, and then until each withdrawal.
How do you confirm arrival?
We report arrival in ACE with our FIRMS code within two business days and send you the arrival date and time, plus received counts once the container is unloaded.
Can I name you as the bonded carrier on an IT to another port?
Yes, for pickups at Long Beach and Los Angeles terminals. Tell us the destination port and facility so we can confirm the plan and timing before you file.
What do you need from me before an in-bond pickup?
The in-bond number and type, bill of lading, container and seal numbers, terminal, last free day, destination FIRMS code, and a contact for holds or amendments.
Can a client sell goods while they are in your bonded warehouse?
Yes. The right to withdraw can be transferred under 19 U.S.C. 1557(b) once the buyer files a bond covering the duties. The goods stay in place, and future withdrawals are filed for the new owner.
Can you release partial quantities from bonded storage?
Yes. We release exactly what each withdrawal covers. If goods were repacked under bond, each withdrawal must include at least one entire repacked package.