by logisticsplus | Nov 29, 2016 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Successfully Completes C-TPAT Membership Revalidation
Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) status confirmed for another three years
ERIE, Pa. (November 29, 2016) – Logistics Plus Inc., a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, is proud to announce its C-TPAT status has been maintained by meeting all of the required revalidation criteria examined as part of a recent U.S. Customs Border and Protection (CBP) audit. C-TPAT is a program implemented by CBP to strengthen international supply chains and to improve the U.S. border protection and security.
To become a certified C-TPAT member, a security profile that summarizes the procedures of securing the supply chain must be submitted. The Logistic Plus security profile was originally submitted and approved by CBP in 2003, and the company has remained a certified member ever since. Members must undergo a revalidation process every three years, and Logistics Plus continues to meet all of the necessary criteria, including:
- Supply Chain Security Risk Assessment
- Business Partner Requirements
- Container / Conveyance / Transport Security
- Procedural Security
- Physical Security
- Physical Access Controls
- Security Training and Threat Awareness
- Personnel Security
- Information Technology Security
“We are very proud of our revalidation results and being a member of this important partnership,” said Adam Mook, compliance manager for Logistics Plus. “As a global operating company, we see it as our duty to comply with international security guidelines to protect our customers and their supply chains against risks and peril.”
For additional details, please visit www.logisticsplus.com/certifications.
About Logistics Plus Inc.
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, 20 years ago, Logistics Plus is a fast-growing and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a strong passion for excellence, its 400+ 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; Alma, AR; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA; Visalia, CA; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Charlotte, NC; Lexington, NC; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Madison, WI; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Poland; Saudi Arabia; South Sudan; Turkey; UAE; and Uganda; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
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by logisticsplus | Oct 27, 2015 | News
Incoterms® refer to a series of rules that define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers (business-to-business) when they purchase and ship goods internationally. These could include various costs and performance tasks which all businesses involved agree to handle.
Background
Incoterms were originally designed by the International Chamber of Commerce, in order to establish a more universal terminology across different members of the international trade industry. They were first introduced in 1936, and are revised as needed. Generally, their life span averages about 10 years. The 2010 Incoterm rules consist of 11 different terms that aid users in dealing with different situations that involve the movement of goods.
Significance
Using Incoterm rules in agreements ensures that both parties are on the same page, thus reducing the possibility of misunderstanding and increasing the likelihood of fulfillment. Incoterm rules are a very significant part of purchase-sales contracts, and it is therefore very essential that both the seller and buyer understand how to use them properly.
General Guidelines
- All Incoterms rules must include the exact geographical place.
- Incoterms must be cited in purchase-sales contracts.
- Incoterm rules are always in English regardless of the contract language.
- Each Incoterm rule has a three letter abbreviation.
- Each Incoterm rule states the location where seller risk (referred to as “delivery”) for the condition agreed upon ends.
- All Incoterm rules require the packaging of goods for transport by the seller.
2010 Incoterm Rules
- Ex Works (EXW): refers to the most basic shipment arrangement, where the seller is only obliged to ensure the packaging and availability of a good and notify the buyer.
- The F-Group (FOB, FAS, FCA): overall, terms in this category indicate that the seller is only responsible for delivering the goods to a carrier determined by the buyer.
- The C- Group (CIP, CPT, CIF, CFR): terms in this category indicate that the seller is obliged to contact and pay for carriage, but is not responsible for cost or risk once the goods are shipped.
- The D- Group (DAF, DES, DEQ, DDU, DDP): terms in this category indicate that the seller is responsible for all costs associated with bringing goods to a certain location determined by the buyer.
Please check out our useful online Incoterms Guide, or contact us for more information. If you have an international shipment ready to go, click the button below to request a free, no-obligation transportation quote.
by Scott Frederick | Jun 17, 2015 | News
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.
by Scott Frederick | May 19, 2015 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Logistics Plus Customs Broker Solutions Receives Remote Location Filing (RLF) Status with U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Its licensed customs brokers can now clear shipments at all ports in the United States.
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, May 19, 2015 – Logistics Plus Inc., a worldwide provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain solutions, announced today that its Customs Broker Solutions division has obtained Remote Location Filing (RLF) status from the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) agency.
RLF is designed to optimize supply chain performance by allowing customs filings from a centralized location for all ports within the United States. Logistics Plus Customs Broker Solutions can transmit electronic entry data to all ports within the United States using its new RLF status. Logistics Plus customers nationwide will have immediate delivery of their cargo no matter where they are located. Customers will also benefit from consistent, uniform entry processing, expedited clearance times and overall reduction in costs.
“We made RLF status a priority as a way to expedite customs processing on behalf of our customers,” said Gretchen Blough, licensed customs broker for Logistics Plus Customs Broker Solutions. “We’re extremely happy that CBP approved our RLF status, and we’re excited to be able to add yet another capability that simplifies importing for our customers.”
Please visit www.logisticsplus.com/customsbroker online for more information.
About Logistics Plus (LP)
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; United Kingdom; and additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Scott G. Frederick
Vice President, Marketing
Logistics Plus Inc.
(814) 240-6881
scott.frederick@logisticsplus.com
by Scott Frederick | Feb 23, 2015 | News
It goes without saying that there are many regulations around importing and exporting – complex regulations. We have licensed and experienced consultants who can help simplify the complexity of those regulations and provide procedures to keep your company in compliance. In fact, when you work with Logistics Plus, it’s like having your very own Global Trade Compliance Department.
- Are you looking to expand your import and / or export operations, and aren’t sure of the regulations you need to follow?
- Have you received Notices of Action on your imports or penalties on your export filings?
- Are your customers asking you to complete free trade agreement paperwork, but you’re unsure of what to do?
- Do you have the knowledge and expertise necessary to keep your company in compliance with import and export regulations?
At Logistics Plus, Adam Mook, global trade compliance department manager, and Gretchen Blough, a licensed customs broker, are part of a global team of 25+ professionals who ensure that everything coming into or going out of the country does so legally and in compliance with all of the various international laws and customs regulations that govern the shipment of goods. “There’s basically two ways to look at it,” says Adam. “If a U.S. company is exporting its product from here to say, Indonesia, they may be able to handle the function of getting out of the United States, but they often don’t think about all the documentation requirements, packaging or labeling of the products for the import process in the country they’re shipping to. That’s where we come in and help, not just in getting it out of the U.S. side, but we also tell them how to prepare their product in order to get it into the country and to clear customs.”
No matter the origin or destination of your goods, we help you gain the knowledge to perform the due diligence necessary to ensure your shipments meet international regulations. Easily define your needs, contain costs, and minimize your risk when you work with our experiences, licensed customs brokers. Our customs specialists help you comply with existing government regulations and stay ahead of changing customs compliance laws to reduce your risk, eliminate errors, and lower your costs.
- Compliance Management
- Import / Export Compliance Manuals
- NAFTA and Free Trade Agreement Qualifications
- Classification (HTS, Schedule B, ECCN)
- Freight Bill Audits
- Import / Export Audits
- Customs Brokerage
- In-house Compliance Training
- On-Site Compliance Management Teams
- Letter of Credit Contract Review and Consulting
If you’re interested in having Logistics Plus be your Global Trade Compliance Department for any of the services listed above, please contact us or reach out directly to Adam or Gretchen to get started.
Adam Mook, Global Trade Compliance Manager
Call 814.464.1722 or email adam.mook@logisticsplus.com
Gretchen Blough, Licensed Customs Broker
Call 814.461.7630 or email gretchen.blough@logisticsplus.com
