Cleared at the border, moving on both sides.
Your freight has to clear before it moves, and it has to keep moving after it clears. We coordinate the first and handle the second.
What it is
What customs clearance is
Customs clearance is the process of getting goods legally released into a country: filing an entry with the customs authority, declaring what the goods are and what they are worth, classifying them under the tariff schedule, and paying any duties, taxes or fees owed.
A licensed customs broker files that entry. It is a federal license under 19 CFR Part 111, with an exam and a regulatory regime behind it.
We are not a customs broker
TransJet is a freight broker. We do not file entries, classify goods, or advise on duty liability. Anyone offering to handle your clearance and your trucking under one license is telling you something that is not true.
We close the gap between the two
Clearance and transportation are usually two vendors who do not talk to each other, and the gap between them is where freight sits accruing charges.
We coordinate with your broker
Or connect you with one we work with, and make sure the truck, the timing and the paperwork line up.
We flag what looks inconsistent
Send the documents before the freight moves. That is not legal advice, it is pattern recognition from watching a lot of loads get held.
What you will need
The single most common cause of a clearance delay is a mismatch. A description on the invoice that does not match the packing list, or a value that does not match the entry. Send us the documents before the freight moves.
01
Commercial invoice
Accurate description, value, and terms of sale. This is the document that causes the most holds when it does not match the others.
02
Packing list
Contents by piece and weight, matching the invoice description item for item.
03
Bill of lading or air waybill
The transport document for the mode the freight actually moved on.
04
Certificate of origin
Where a trade agreement applies and origin decides whether duty is owed at all.
05
HS classification
A code for each item. The rate follows the code, so this is where the money is.
06
Agency documentation
FDA, USDA, EPA or DOT paperwork, depending on the commodity.
A clean entry filed in advance
Frequently clears on arrival. Filing before the freight arrives rather than after is the single biggest factor in how long it takes.
Add time for an inspection
Selection for inspection is not something anyone controls, and it is worth having slack in the plan for it.
Add time for a correction
A document correction or an agency hold restarts part of the clock. This is what the pre-check is for.
Arrange the duty payment early
An unarranged duty payment holds freight that would otherwise have cleared.
Plan the clearance before the freight ships
Almost everything expensive in this process comes from doing it in the wrong order. Tell us the lane, the commodity, and whether you already have a customs broker, and we will coordinate the rest.
FAQ
Common questions
about customs clearance
The ones we get asked most often.
What does a customs clearance service actually do?
A customs clearance service acts as the intermediary between the shipper and the customs authority. A licensed customs broker prepares and submits the entry, declares the goods and their value, classifies them under the tariff schedule, and arranges payment of duties and taxes. TransJet coordinates with your broker and moves the freight. We do not file entries.
How long does the customs clearance process take?
A clean entry filed in advance frequently clears on arrival. Delays come from selection for inspection, a document correction, an agency hold, or a duty payment that has not been arranged. Filing before the freight arrives rather than after is the single biggest factor.
What are customs duties and taxes, and who pays them?
Customs duties are tariffs a government imposes on imported goods. Taxes usually refer to local sales taxes such as VAT or GST. Who pays them depends on the terms of sale you agreed, so it is worth confirming the Incoterm before the goods ship rather than arguing about it after.
What is an HS Code, and why is it critical?
An HS code is the classification assigned to your goods under the Harmonized System tariff schedule. It determines the duty rate and any restrictions that apply. The same product can sometimes fall under more than one plausible code with materially different rates, which is why classification is worth getting right the first time.
Why do shipments get delayed at customs, and how can I avoid it?
Most delays come from a mismatch between documents: a description on the invoice that does not match the packing list, or a declared value that does not match the entry. The rest come from inspection selection, agency holds, and unarranged duty payment. Sending the documents for a look before the freight moves catches most of the first category.
What documents must be prepared for a customs entry?
A commercial invoice with an accurate description and value, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where a trade agreement applies, and HS classification for each item. Some commodities also need agency-specific documentation from the FDA, USDA, EPA or DOT.
Moving freight across a border?
Tell us the lane, the commodity, and whether you already have a customs broker. We will coordinate the rest.