Logistics Plus employees, representing both LP Mexico and LP International, are attending the Sino-Americas Regional Conference 2015 in Miami, Florida this week. Logistics Plus is also a sponsor for the event. The conference began on Sunday, June 21 and ends on Wednesday, June 23. Organized jointly by WCA ltd and China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA), this event promises to be the most important networking and business-generating opportunity for any freight forwarder or logistics company looking to establish or expand its volumes into or out of this region.
As the key logistics hub between South, Central and North America, Miami plays a crucial role in facilitating trade between the Americas and the rest of the world. By attending this 3-day Logistics Plus hopes to open up a whole range of new potential business partnerships and to build our presence as an expert logistics provider to and from this market. The conference is open to all independent freight forwarders and vendors to the logistics sector, such as airlines, shipping lines, ports, airports, IT providers and equipment suppliers.
Earlier this week, the Logistics Plus international project cargo team used their logistical expertise to coordinate an important move for a Fortune 500 customer. The move entailed picking up a large generator and related components at a warehouse in Wisconsin and delivering them to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was imperative that the shipment be picked up before June 15 to accommodate the necessary sailing and delivery schedule requirements. Unable to get the required pickup scheduled on their own, the customer called on Logistics Plus to make it happen.
Working with the Logistics Plus North American truckload solutions, and with the Wisconsin warehouse manager, our project cargo specialists were able to successfully schedule two trucks (a flatbed and a heavy hauler) to pick up the generator and the four crated pallets that would make up this load. The shipment (pictured below) is successfully in transit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where Logistics Plus Middle East personnel will take over for final delivery arrangements.
If you need project forwarding help with your important or heavy-lift cargo – don’t work with just any logistics company. Work with Logistics Plus and you’ll get world-class service and peace-of-mind assurance knowing your shipment is in good hands with our project cargo logistics experts.
Logistics Plus recently issued an announcement that its Customs Broker Solutions division had obtained Remote Location Filing (RLF) status from the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) agency. RLF status allows Logistics Plus to file customs clearance information at all ports in the United States from a centralized location (i.e., from our global headquarters in Erie, PA). If you’re new to the world of importing and exporting, here’s a quick primer on what customs brokerage means and how Logistics Plus Customs Broker Solutions can help.
What is Customs Brokerage?
Customs brokerage is the process by which goods are cleared through customs barriers for imports or exporters. The people who facilitate customs clearance are typically called “customs brokers” and, in the United States, they must be licensed by the U.S. CBP to be able to assist with imported goods. Customs brokers analyze the commercial shipping documents for regulatory requirements prior to electronic submissions to customs. They also must classify the product correctly to determine the amount of accessed duties and taxes, and they facilitate communication between the importer and governmental authorities.
Customs brokers in the U.S. are third-party agents who process and submit documentation to notify or obtain clearance from government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and many others. Customs brokers are not government employees but rather a liaison between importers and the appropriate government customs agents. Licensed customs brokers are well versed with tariff schedules that outline duty rates set by the government for specific items and regulations governing imports. Knowing the requirements of each type of import can avoid costly delays, fines, seizure of merchandise, and other penalties.
How do Customs Brokers become licensed?
As mentioned earlier, customs brokers in the U.S. must be licensed by the U.S. CBP. There are approximately 11,000 active licensed customs brokers in the Unites States today. Freight forwarders and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) must have a broker license to transact customs business. Each business must have at least one individually licensed broker to qualify for the company’s overall license (Logistics Plus has two fully-licensed U.S. customs brokers on its corporate staff in Erie, PA). Failure to have a qualifying broker for more than 120 days will result in the revocation of the broker license.
To become a licensed customs broker one must be at least 21 years old, not be a current Federal Government employee, and must possess good moral character. After extensive training, the candidate must successfully pass the Customs Broker License Examination. A candidate will also undergo a multi-agency background investigation and review, and an application can take from 8 to 12 months to process.
Why use a Customs Broker?
Most companies do not have the people or financial resources to fully comprehend the complex regulatory and technological requirements of customs border control and homeland security. A customs broker’s job is to help companies move their shipments seamlessly across the border and reach their final destination on-time while adhering to customs laws and regulations. If there’s a problem, your customs broker will work to get it fixed so your shipment can be released from customs and back en-route to its final destination. It’s particularly important to use a customs broker if you are importing items over $2,000 in value, if you’re importing a regulated items such as pharmaceuticals or biological products, or when time is important and you think there is a possibility that CBP may delay delivery of your shipment.
The Logistics Plus Customs Broker Solutions staff has the expertise and experience to assist you with the entire U.S. customs clearance process – no matter which port of entry through which you may be shipping. We also have agents around the world that can help with customs solutions in foreign countries. We even provide training workshops and company-specific training sessions to help companies better understand all aspects of global trade compliance. Simply put – we make importing easy.
Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about Logistics Plus Customs Broker Solutions or if you have any international shipments you’d like us to quote for you.
Logistics Plus Turkey Opens New Office in Ankara New Office Represents its Fourth Location in the Country of Turkey
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, June 11, 2015 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, continues to expand its global presence with the opening of a new office in Ankara, Turkey – the country’s capital and second largest city. Ankara is an import crossroads of trade, strategically located at the center of Turkey’s highway and railway networks, and serves as the marketing center for the surrounding agricultural area. The company also has offices located in Istanbul, Izmir, and Mersin.
Faik Uçkan, business development manager for Logistics Plus Turkey, will be responsible for growing new business in the region. Logistics Plus Turkey, one of the fastest-growing global divisions within the company, has developed specific expertise in the handling of project cargo and freight forwarding project logistics. Recent import projects include harvesters from Belgium, expansion joints from Spain, and boilers from Poland. Example export projects include steel products to the U.K., Tugboats to Qatar, and drying chambers to France.
“I am excited about the opening of our Ankara office,” said Bahadir Erdil, managing director for Logistics Plus Turkey. “Our project forwarding capabilities combined with Faik’s business development experience will open up new doors for logistics opportunities across the region.”
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, global logistics, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. Founded in Erie, PA by local entrepreneur Jim Berlin nearly 20 years ago, Logistics Plus has been repeatedly recognized as one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies in the country. With a strong passion for excellence, its 350+ employees put the “Plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, and the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices located in Erie, PA; Fresno, CA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Evansville, IN; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Laredo, TX; Houston, TX; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; ; and additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
Today three representatives from Logistics Plus rappelled “Over the Edge” down a 14-story, 200-foot tall building in downtown Erie, PA in support of Gaudenzia. Gaudenzia helps people affected by chemical dependency, mental illness and related conditions to achieve a better quality of life — allowing them to live as productive and accountable individuals. Logistics Plus (LP) was a main sponsor for the event; and additionally, the LP rappelling team was able to raise another $1,000 for the charity. The three brave souls that climbed down the building today included Logistics Plus founder and CEO, Jim Berlin; North American account executive, Andy Seidler; and international manager, Abi Lopez Kuzma. Another 56 volunteers from around the community are also rappelling for Gaudenzia today.
Logistics Plus employees, representing both LP Mexico and LP International, are attending the Sino-Americas Regional Conference 2015 in Miami, Florida this week. Logistics Plus is also a sponsor for the event. The conference began on Sunday, June 21 and ends on Wednesday, June 23. Organized jointly by WCA ltd and China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA), this event promises to be the most important networking and business-generating opportunity for any freight forwarder or logistics company looking to establish or expand its volumes into or out of this region.
