This is a general announcement for all customers who place direct container orders with North Coast Pottery, to inform you of potential expenses when importing:
Due to increased restrictions and regulations by the U.S. Customs Border & Protection (CBP) in terms of international, inter-regional, and local transport, there are some CBP operation costs that potentially could delay the container transportation from the port of discharge, rail ramp destination, and local to customer and vice versa. Below is an explanation of expenses the customer shall bear and you should be familiar with:
- Demurrage – A fee that is assessed when a container isn’t moved off from the terminal/rail destination on the “free time” allowance assigned by CBP. Please note that demurrage charges may still be applied although CBP conducts the examination of the container beyond its allowance time.
- Pre-Pull Charge – This means that the container needs to be pre-pulled at the local trucker’s rate to avoid demurrage charge. It’s applied for shipments that arrive at rail destinations close to the weekend, i.e. Thursday or Friday, and if the customer cannot accept the container on the day its available for delivery.
- Storage fee – This is when a container is pre-pulled, the storage fee may be applied at the local trucker’s rate.
- Detention/Per-diem Charge – This is a cost-per-day that is assessed on container(s) held by customers for an extended time and charges levied upon a trucker due to late return of equipment t the port/terminal/rail terminal after the designated free time assigned by CBP.
- If your shipment is examined by CBP, the Centralized Examination Station (CES) will facilitate CBP by providing an efficient means to conduct exam(s) like:
- VACIS Exam: Vehicle and Cargo Inspection using sophisticated imaging technology, i.e. X-Ray exam.
- M.E.T. Exam: Manifest Examination Team examines documents for custom- clearance on a random basis.
- Intensive Exam: Full Devanning (unloading goods from container) exam.
- AQI (Agriculture Quarantine Inspection -- formerly USDA) Hold.
Extra trucker’s transportation fees will also be applied if the container is moved to the Central Examination Station (CES) or Homeland Security exam site.
North Coast Pottery strives to work closely with our contracted custom brokers and freight forwarders to be compliant with U.S. Customs procedures and minimize your risk as we understand how time sensitive your product is.