First-Time Import Guide to Los Angeles

If this is your first time importing a container to Los Angeles or the United States, congratulations! We can help guide you through this process to ensure a successful delivery to your door by following the below 6 easy steps.

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6 Easy Steps to Importing

As fellow importers of cargo from overseas, we understand the headaches that importers encounter in getting cargo from their manufacturer to their door. Since 2009, Comex Logistics has been providing door-to-door container shipping services for importers in the US. We handle the export shipping at the country of origin, ocean transportation, US Customs clearance, and domestic drayage delivery to your door.

Step 1

Finding a Supplier for your Goods

Let's say you're importing fitness equipment from China. How do you go about finding a supplier? We recommend using Alibaba, and searching for vendors that have years in business and positive reviews from customers such as yourself.

Step 2

Container Size

Depending on the weight, quantity, and dimensions of your cargo, you'll need to select the correct container size to safely transport your container once it arrives to the US. If your cargo is over 37,000 lbs. for a 20ft it will be considered overweight and will require a triaxle chassis to be moved safely. A 40ft container over 44,000 lbs. will be considered overweight as well.

Step 3

Ocean Freight Shipping Terms

Your manufacturer can offer you shipping solutions such as direct delivery to your nearest US Port, with insurance included. This is known as CIF shipping, which is a shipping incoterm. While convenient, it is also much more expensive because you do not have control over shipping costs and shipping methods from the manufacturer's warehouse.

As a global freight forwarder, we can assist you in transporting your cargo from the manufacturer to your door at a competitive price with our FOB or EXW incoterm shipping solutions.

Step 4

ISF Filing

Before your cargo leaves the port at the country of lading (China for example) your customs broker must file an ISF to alert US Customs and Border Protection that your cargo is on its way to the US. Failure to file an ISF at least 24 hours before departure from the foreign port can result in a $5,000.00 penalty.

You will need 3 documents to file an ISF.
1) Commercial Invoice with product description, value, and HTS code
2) Packing List
3) Bill of Lading

Step 5

USA Customs Clearance

Every product entering the US must clear customs. Depending on the nature of your product, you will need to pay customs duties and fees based on its HTS code. You will also need a single entry bond or a continuous bond, which guarantees payment of duties to CBP in the event payment isn't received.

A single entry bond covers only one shipment at one port of entry. The value of the bond must be at least equal in value to the cost of the shipment. For products under the jurisdiction of other government agencies (FDA,EPA, NHTSA, etc.) the single entry bond amount must be 3 times the value of the goods + customs duties & fees.

A continuous bond covers multiple shipments over the course of a year at any US port of entry. The minimum coverage of a continuous bond is $50,000, and will be a better deal if you plan to import more than one container per year. It also covers the ISF bond requirements as well.

Step 6

Pier Pass

If your container is arriving at the Port of Los Angeles or Long Beach, you must clear PierPASS, which is a not-for-profit company created by the West Coast MTO Agreement (WCMTOA) member container terminal operators at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach to address multi-terminal issues such as congestion, air quality and security.

The two fees charged per container by PierPASS are below.

Traffic Mitigation Fee (TMF): Currently $35.57 for a 20ft container or $71.14 for a 40ft container..

Clean Truck Fee (CTF): $10.00 fee per 20ft container, or $20.00 per 40ft container.

You can create an account with PierPASS here.

Step 7

Drayage Delivery

Once your container clears customs, we can pick it up from the port and deliver it to your door. This is known as drayage transportation. Your standard drayage service will include a price for the delivery, the daily chassis fee (the equipment your container sits on), and fuel surcharge. We refer to this as the "drayage formula."

Drayage Cost = Dray + Fuel + Chassis (per day)

In some cases, due to factors outside our control such as terminal appointment times at the port, or warehouse receiving hours, other accessory costs will incur.

Once you're done unloading your container, we will return the empty container to the port to complete the import process.

Need Help with your Imports or Exports?

Since 2009 we have been providing container shipping solutions for dry and refrigerated cargo to importers and exporters in Los Angeles, the United States, and around the world.