Miami, Florida

Your U.S. operation, handled.

One licensed company for everything that happens to cargo inside the United States — importing it, storing it, exporting it — whether the freight is yours or your client's.

FMC Licensed NVOCC
CHB 5 broker network
TSA IAC Approved
MIA Own Warehouses
30+ Countries
FMC-Licensed NVOCC 5 Licensed Customs Brokers TSA IAC Approved Since 2016 Agents in 30+ Countries
Difference

Three reasons people stop shopping around.

01

Our fees are published — not the lowest, just the real ones.

Most forwarders quote a low headline rate and let the ancillary charges land later — chassis, drayage, documentation, handling, filing. That's where the margin actually lives, which is why nobody publishes them. We do. You may well be quoted less elsewhere; you will not be invoiced less.

See pricing →
02

One company, not four.

Freight forwarder, FMC-licensed NVOCC, warehouse operator and trucking network — all IEXLOG — plus five licensed customs brokers we work with directly. Most shipments touch three or four vendors you have to manage yourself, each with its own invoice and its own excuse when something slips. You manage one.

03

U.S. specialists, not generalists.

We don't try to be a global network with an office in every port. We are exceptionally good at one thing: everything that happens to cargo inside the United States. Agents in 30+ countries use us precisely because that's all we do.

Pricing

You shouldn't have to call to find out what something costs.

A standard import clearance, itemized. Clearance, ISF and handling don't change with shipment size.

Customs entry & clearanceCBP entry filing · classification · duty calculation$175
ISF filing (10+2)Importer Security Filing, submitted on time$65
Single-entry customs bond$13 per $1,000 of value · $95 minimumfrom $95
Handling & documentationB/L · arrival notice · coordination$150
Standard import packageat minimum bond · bond line scales with cargo valuefrom $485

Duties, taxes and government fees pass through at cost — never marked up.
Freight and inland delivery are quoted per lane. Every service we sell is priced on one page.

See full pricing →
Trade partners

Moving cargo for clients overseas?

AGT

Cargo Agents

Use our Miami operation as your U.S. office. You keep the client relationship and your brand; we execute the U.S. side — customs, freight, warehousing and delivery — and report back so you always look informed. Transparent agent fee model, with a non-solicitation commitment in writing.

How the agent program works →
CUR

Courier Processing

U.S. receiving address, consolidation, compliance screening and outbound processing for courier and casillero companies. You handle your customers; we handle U.S. compliance and dispatch — with per-piece pricing you can build your own retail rates on.

Courier processing & rates →
Network

We are the U.S. side of your supply chain — in 30+ countries.

AMERICAS

Canada · Mexico · Guatemala · Honduras · El Salvador · Costa Rica · Panama · Colombia · Venezuela · Ecuador · Peru · Brazil

CARIBBEAN & EUROPE

Dominican Republic · Haiti · Jamaica · Puerto Rico

United Kingdom · Spain · Germany · Italy · Turkey

ASIA, MEA & OCEANIA

China · Hong Kong · South Korea · Japan · India · Vietnam

United Arab Emirates · Oman · Uganda · Australia

Rate bulletin

Get our rate bulletin. Every two weeks.

Current ocean rates on the lanes we actually move, plus a plain-English read on what's driving them — GRIs, capacity, tariff changes, port conditions. Written for people who buy freight, not for freight people. No sales calls.

One click unsubscribe · no sales calls

Questions

Common questions

What exactly does IEXLOG do?

We handle the United States portion of international shipments. That means importing cargo into the U.S. and clearing it, exporting cargo out of the U.S., warehousing and distributing it here, and acting as the U.S. operation for freight agents and courier companies based overseas.

Are you a freight forwarder, an NVOCC, or a customs broker?

Imports Exports Logistics, Inc. is a licensed freight forwarder, an FMC-licensed NVOCC, TSA IAC approved, and a warehouse operator. Customs brokerage is handled by five licensed U.S. customs brokers we work with directly — we coordinate the entry, they file it. That gives you coverage at more ports and a broker matched to your commodity, quoted as one number on one invoice.

Do I have to be in Florida to use you?

No. Our warehouses and head office are in Miami, but we file customs entries at any U.S. port and deliver anywhere in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through a 60+ carrier network.

How much does it cost?

Our service fees are published in full on our pricing page. Freight and delivery vary by lane and are quoted per shipment, usually within one business day.

Can you handle temperature-controlled, hazardous or oversized cargo?

Yes. Plants, ISO tanks, project and out-of-gauge cargo and AOG emergencies are all handled. Cool storage and perishable holding are arranged through specialist partner facilities in Miami and managed by us. Dangerous goods on ocean require an IMO declaration; we'll walk you through it.

How fast can you quote?

One business day for standard freight. Same day for AOG and emergency shipments.

Tell us what you're moving.

Origin, destination, and what's in it. That's enough for a firm quote — freight, clearance and delivery as one number — within one business day. No call required.

Get a quote →

Or talk to operations: +1 (800) 707-0194

Imports · Cargo owners

Import into the U.S. with the total cost quoted upfront.

Ocean, air and over-the-road freight — from anywhere in the world, and overland from Canada and Mexico. Cleared through U.S. Customs and delivered to your door as one service, on one invoice, with every fee published before you commit.

FCL / LCL Ocean
AIR Consolidated & direct
TRUCK Canada & Mexico
CHB Nationwide entry
1 DAY Quote
Who this is for

Built for importers who need the number to be right.

  • First-time importers — you found a supplier and don't know what happens next.
  • E-commerce brands scaling past parcel and into containers.
  • Distributors & wholesalers who need landed cost locked before setting retail.
  • Manufacturers importing components on a schedule that can't slip.
  • Importers moving cargo overland from Canada or Mexico.
  • Importers switching forwarders because the invoices stopped matching the quotes.
The problem

The ocean rate isn't the price.

You get a clean port-to-port number. Then the shipment arrives and the real invoice shows up: chassis, drayage, terminal handling, documentation, ISF, bond, exam fees, per diem, demurrage. By the time it's all in, the “cheap” quote wasn't cheap — and you've already sold the product at the wrong margin.

That's not bad luck. That's the business model. Ancillary charges are where the margin hides, so they don't get quoted upfront. We do it the other way around.

Pricing

Every fee we charge, published.

Clearance, ISF and handling are flat — one carton or a full container, same price. Only the bond scales, and it scales with the value of your cargo, not its size.

Customs entry & clearanceCBP entry filing · HTS classification · duty calculation$175
ISF filing (10+2)Filed inside the 24-hour pre-loading window$65
Single-entry customs bond$13 per $1,000 of value · $95 minimumfrom $95
Handling & documentationB/L · arrival notice · coordination$150
Standard import packageat minimum bond · bond line scales with cargo valuefrom $485

Package total assumes the $95 minimum bond; higher-value cargo raises the bond line only.
Ocean freight, air freight and inland delivery quoted per lane · Duties, taxes, HMF, MPF, exam fees and demurrage pass through at cost

Worked example

A first container, start to finish

Asia → your warehouse in Doral, FL · one 40′ HC · $15,000 of goods. The size of order most people start with.

Ocean freightport to port, incl. BAF$3,180
Customs entry & clearance$175
ISF filing (10+2)$65
Single-entry bond$15,000 × $13 per $1,000$195
Handling & documentation$150
Inland deliverydrayage + 50 mi delivery + chassis$640
All-in landed cost$4,405

Every line itemized, because on a first import the surprise line is the one that hurts.
Duties & taxes pass through at cost, calculated from your HTS code — we'll estimate them before you buy.

Straight talk

Our fees aren't the lowest you'll be quoted.
They're the ones you'll actually pay.

Somewhere out there is a broker quoting $95 for a customs entry. That quote is real. What it leaves out is also real.

A documentation fee that wasn't mentioned. A telex release fee. A chassis charge that shows up at delivery. A terminal handling fee passed on with a margin attached. By the time the container is unloaded, the cheap broker cost more than the expensive one — and you found out after you'd already priced the goods for your customer.

A low headline fee isn't generosity. It's a decision about which number to show you first. Ancillary charges are where forwarding margin actually lives, which is exactly why almost nobody publishes them.

We charge $175 for an entry, and every other fee we have is on this page. If you're holding a cheaper quote, ask that broker for their complete fee schedule in writing. The comparison usually settles itself.

Process

Five steps. You're involved in two of them.

01

Quote

Send origin, destination, commodity, number of pieces, weight and dimensions — and the incoterm your supplier quoted. The incoterm tells us where their responsibility ends and ours begins, which is what decides whether you need origin pickup and export clearance or only the U.S. side. Firm all-in landed quote back within one business day, valid 14 days.

02

Book & file

We book the space — vessel, aircraft or truck — coordinate with your supplier, and file your ISF inside the 24-hour deadline on ocean shipments. Bond arranged if you don't have one.

03

In transit

Tracking from departure, whether it sails, flies or crosses a border. Proactive updates on delays, rolls and ETA changes — you hear it from us first, not from your customer.

04

Clear

We prepare the entry and coordinate clearance with one of the five licensed U.S. customs brokers we work with — chosen for your port and your commodity. They file; we manage it and bill it as part of your quote.

05

Deliver

Drayage, airport pickup or direct truck delivery to your door, anywhere in the U.S., Canada or Mexico.

Incoterms · Buyer's side

What each term costs you as the buyer.

Your supplier quotes a term along with the price, and it decides how much of the journey you're paying for. The same unit price under two different terms is two different deals.

EXW

Ex Works

You pay: everything from their dock. Collection, origin handling, export clearance, freight, U.S. entry and delivery. The lowest unit price you'll be quoted — because it covers the least. Good if you want full control and have a forwarder you trust; painful if you don't, since you're now responsible for export formalities in a country you're not in.

FOB

Free On Board

You pay: from the vessel onward. The supplier delivers to the port and clears the goods for export; you control the ocean carrier, the freight rate and the destination side. Usually the best term for an importer — it's the point where you gain control without inheriting foreign paperwork.

CIF

Cost, Insurance & Freight

You pay: from arrival onward. Looks convenient — freight is in the price. But your supplier picked the carrier and the forwarder, which means you inherit whatever destination charges their agent decides to bill you, and you have no leverage over them. This is the single most common source of surprise arrival fees.

DDP

Delivered Duty Paid

You pay: nothing extra — in theory. The supplier covers freight, U.S. clearance and duties. Simplest to buy, but you're paying a marked-up price for logistics you can't audit, and you generally remain liable to CBP for the accuracy of the entry regardless of who filed it. Convenience, not protection.

Full incoterms guide for importers →
Checklist

What we need from you and your supplier.

FROM YOUR SUPPLIER
  • Commercial invoice (with HTS codes if available)
  • Packing list
  • Bill of lading or telex release
  • Certificate of origin (if claiming preferential duty)
  • Product certificates — FDA, FCC, DOT as applicable
FROM YOU
  • Customs power of attorney — we send the form; your EIN or SSN is captured on it
  • Customs bond, or we arrange it
  • Delivery address and receiving hours
First container?

Start here.

You found a supplier, agreed a price, and now you're being asked about incoterms, bonds and ISF filings. That's normal, and it's where most first shipments go wrong.

Send us what you know — the supplier's location, what you're buying, and roughly how much. We'll tell you what to ask your supplier for, whether the incoterm they quoted is actually in your interest, what your duty rate is likely to be, and what the whole thing will land at.

Talk through my first import → Or call us +1 (800) 707-0194 Call +1 (800) 707-0194
Questions

Import FAQ

Do I need a customs bond?

Yes — CBP requires one for any commercial import. A single-entry bond costs $13 per $1,000 of commercial value, with a $95 minimum, so the price rises with the value of your cargo. An annual continuous bond is $650 and covers unlimited entries for twelve months — the standard $50,000 bond that nearly every importer needs. At around $50,000 per shipment, a single bond already costs about as much as a full year — our bond calculator will tell you which is cheaper for your volume and values.

What is ISF and what happens if it's late?

Importer Security Filing (10+2) applies to ocean shipments and must reach CBP at least 24 hours before your cargo is loaded at the origin port. Late or inaccurate filings carry penalties up to $5,000 per violation. We file it for $65 and track the deadline for you. Air and truck imports don't require an ISF.

What if my shipment is selected for a CBP exam?

Exams happen — they're random and no forwarder can prevent them. We handle the coordination and tell you immediately, including the expected cost and delay. Exam and related fees pass through at cost.

FCL or LCL — which is right for me?

Under roughly 15 cbm, LCL is usually cheaper. Above that, a full container generally wins on both cost and transit time, and your cargo stays sealed from origin. Our clearance, ISF and handling fees total $390 either way — only the bond scales, and it scales with cargo value rather than container size. A single pallet is charged like a full container.

Do you handle imports from Canada and Mexico?

Yes. Overland freight crossing at the northern or southern border is cleared the same way as ocean or air — entry filing, classification and duty — and delivered onward by truck. No ISF is required on truck shipments, but the entry and bond requirements are identical.

Do you mark up duties?

No. Duties, taxes and government fees pass through at cost.

What do you need from me to quote?

Origin port or city, destination ZIP, commodity description, number of pieces, weight and dimensions — and the incoterm on your purchase or sale. The incoterm decides which legs of the move are yours to pay for, so without it we can only guess at the scope. With it, we can quote firm in one business day.

Get your landed cost in one business day.

Send the lane and the commodity. You'll get a firm, all-in number — freight, clearance and delivery — good for 14 days.

Request a firm quote →
Exports · Cargo owners

Export from the U.S. without the paperwork risk.

Documentation, AES/EEI filing, consolidation and delivery to 30+ countries — handled by a licensed U.S. forwarder who knows what your destination will reject.

AES EEI filing
30+ Destination countries
AIR/OCEAN Multimodal
AOG Same-day response
Who this is for

For exporters whose cargo can't afford to sit.

  • U.S. manufacturers shipping finished goods abroad
  • Distributors serving Latin America and the Caribbean
  • E-commerce brands going international for the first time
  • Companies whose shipment got held at a foreign port
  • Anyone shipping something unusual — perishable, live, oversized, hazardous
  • AOG operators needing an aircraft part moved today
The problem

Exports go wrong at the paperwork, not the freight.

A missing certificate of origin. A wrong AES filing. An incoterm that quietly made you liable for destination charges you never budgeted. Your cargo sits at a foreign port racking up storage while your customer calls daily and you have nobody on the ground to ask.

Almost all of it is preventable at booking. We check your documentation against the destination's actual requirements before the cargo moves, and we put a named counterpart at the other end — from our own agent network where we have one, and from partners we've vetted and stay accountable for where we don't. Either way you get one company to call, and it's us.

Scope

What's included

  • Air & ocean export — consolidated and direct
  • Export documentation — full preparation and review
  • AES / EEI filing — filed on your behalf
  • Freight consolidation — LCL and air consolidations
  • Project & out-of-gauge cargo
  • AOG — aircraft on ground, same-day response
  • Hand carriers — onboard courier service
  • Perishables & cooler service
  • Plant handling
  • Nationwide pickup — 60+ carrier network
  • Cargo insurance
  • Destination delivery via our worldwide agent network
Incoterms · Seller's side

What each term costs you as the seller.

The most expensive mistake in exporting is agreeing to a term you haven't priced. Same four terms every exporter meets, read from your side of the deal.

EXW

Ex Works

You pay: nothing past your dock. The buyer arranges collection, export clearance and everything after. Cheapest headline price for you — but you lose all visibility, and in practice the U.S. export filing obligation often still lands on you because your buyer has no U.S. presence to file it.

FOB

Free On Board

You pay: to the vessel. Inland haulage to the port, export clearance and loading. Your risk ends at the ship's rail and the buyer picks the carrier. The most common ocean term and usually the fairest split — quote this one unless you have a reason not to.

CIF

Cost, Insurance & Freight

You pay: ocean freight and insurance to their port. The buyer covers clearance and delivery. Choose this when you want control of the carrier and the routing — useful if your buyer's freight choices have burned you before. Price it carefully: freight moves and your quote doesn't.

DDP

Delivered Duty Paid

You pay: everything, including foreign duties. The strongest offer you can put in front of a buyer, and the one most likely to cost you more than you quoted. Never quote DDP without checking the destination duty rate and whether a foreign entity is even permitted to act as importer of record there.

Full incoterms guide for exporters →
Questions

What exporters ask us first.

If your question isn't here, it's probably worth a phone call — most export problems are cheaper to solve before the cargo moves.

What is AES/EEI, and do I have to file it?

Electronic Export Information is filed through the Automated Export System for most shipments valued over $2,500 per Schedule B code, and for anything requiring an export licence regardless of value. It is a legal obligation of the U.S. Principal Party in Interest — usually you, the seller. Penalties for late or false filing run to $10,000 per violation. We file it for $35, keep the record, and give you the Internal Transaction Number your carrier will ask for.

My buyer wants EXW. Should I agree?

Usually not. Under EXW your buyer is responsible for U.S. export clearance — but a foreign buyer generally has no U.S. presence and can't file, so the obligation lands back on you without a contract that pays you for it. Quote FCA instead. It costs you almost nothing more, you keep control of the export filing you're already equipped to do, and your risk still ends early. Our incoterms guide walks through all eleven.

How do I choose between air and ocean?

The honest rule of thumb: if the value of the goods is high relative to their weight, or a delay costs you more than the freight, fly it. Ocean makes sense when the cargo is dense, the margin is thin, and the delivery date has slack. Send us the commodity, weight and required date and we'll price both so you can see the trade rather than guess at it.

What documents will my buyer need at destination?

At minimum a commercial invoice, packing list, and the transport document — bill of lading or air waybill. Beyond that it depends entirely on the country and the commodity: certificate of origin, legalisation or consular stamp, phytosanitary or health certificate, fumigation certificate for wood packaging. We check your documentation against the destination's actual requirements before the cargo moves, because a missing certificate is far cheaper to fix in Miami than at a foreign port.

What happens if my shipment is held at destination?

We find out why, tell you what it will take to release it, and what it's costing per day while it sits. We put a named counterpart at the other end — from our own agent network where we have one, and from partners we've vetted where we don't — so there's someone accountable rather than an email address. You deal with us throughout.

Do I need cargo insurance?

Carrier liability is not insurance. Under ocean carriage it's typically limited to around $500 per package, which is meaningless on most commercial shipments. If you're selling on CFR or CPT the risk transferred to your buyer at origin — but if you're on DAP, DPU or DDP, the goods are yours until they arrive. We quote insurance as a percentage of declared value and we'll tell you plainly when the term you've agreed leaves you exposed.

Can you consolidate several orders into one shipment?

Yes. If you're shipping to several buyers in the same market, or fulfilling multiple orders to one buyer, consolidating into a single container or air shipment usually beats sending them separately — you pay one set of destination charges instead of several. We receive into our Miami warehouse and hold until you're ready. Export shipments get the first month of storage free.

Are there things I can't export?

Controlled and licensed goods vary by commodity and by destination. Dual-use items, certain technology, defence articles and anything bound for a sanctioned party or country need screening before you commit to a sale date. Tell us the product and the country early and we'll flag it — a shipment stopped by BIS or OFAC is a far worse problem than a delayed one.

How far ahead should I book?

Standard ocean, about a week before your cargo is ready — earlier around Chinese New Year, peak season and Golden Week, when space tightens. Air is more forgiving. Perishables, dangerous goods, oversized cargo and anything needing a permit want as much notice as you can give, because the constraint is rarely the aircraft or vessel — it's the paperwork.

What's an AOG shipment?

Aircraft On Ground — a grounded aircraft waiting on a part, costing thousands an hour. We respond same day, price every routing option including onboard courier, and stay on it until it lands. AOG service →

What does the export side cost?

Export documentation is $35 and AES/EEI filing is $35. Freight, pickup and insurance are quoted per shipment. Every fee we charge is published — see the full rate card →

Tell us where it's going.

Commodity, destination country, and rough weight and dimensions. We'll come back with routing, documentation requirements and a quote.

Get an export quote →
Warehousing · Cargo owners

Miami warehouse space without the twelve-month contract.

Receiving, storage, deconsolidation, pick and pack, and nationwide distribution from our own facilities — priced per pallet, scaled to your season.

MIA Own facility
7,500 Sq ft
NO LOCK-IN Per pallet, biweekly
60+ Carrier network
The problem

Most 3PLs want a contract before they'll take your first pallet.

A long commitment, a volume minimum, and an onboarding fee. That works if your volume is flat and predictable. It doesn't if you're growing, seasonal, or testing the U.S. market for the first time.

We price per pallet position, billed every two weeks — a $25 minimum or $0.04 per lb, whichever is greater. Take ten positions this month and eighty in October. The rate card doesn't change, and there's no contract to renegotiate when it does.

Scope

What we do in the warehouse

  • Receiving & inspection
  • Short and long-term storage
  • Container loading & unloading
  • Deconsolidation & segregation
  • Inventory management
  • Pick & pack
  • Packing & crating
  • Local & national distribution
  • Inspection & supervision
  • Full portal visibility — Kappa Logistics WMS
Through our partner network

Specialist storage, arranged and managed by us

Some cargo needs a facility ours isn't. Rather than turn it away or pretend otherwise, we place it with the right specialist facility and stay the single point of contact — you deal with us, not with them.

BONDED / FTZ

Duty deferral

Bonded warehouse, Foreign Trade Zone or CFS placement depending on what your cargo and duty position actually require. Lets you hold goods without paying duty until they're withdrawn.

COOL

Cool storage & perishables

Temperature-controlled facilities in Miami — the busiest perishables gateway in the U.S. Arranged to your temperature range and dwell time.

AGRI

Plant handling

Plant and horticultural cargo placed with facilities equipped for inspection and holding requirements.

Facilities

Where your cargo actually sits.

MIAMI

6820 NW 77th Ct
Miami, FL 33166

Office and warehouse under one roof, minutes from Miami International Airport. Receiving, deconsolidation, racked storage and outbound all happen in the same building — your cargo isn't shuttled between sites.

[ DIRECTIONS ]

SPECS

The numbers

7,500 sq ft
2 dock doors · 1 ramp
Mon–Fri, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Gated facility · internal & external CCTV
Kappa Logistics WMS · customer web portal

Photo tour

See the space before you enquire

SHOT 01

Racked storage

Palletized cargo in the racks, shot down an aisle. The single most persuasive image on this page.

SHOT 02

Dock & receiving

Both dock doors with a container being unloaded, or the ramp in use.

SHOT 03

Deconsolidation floor

Cargo segregated and staged by consignee, labels visible.

Questions

Warehousing FAQ

Is there a minimum commitment?

No long-term contract required. Storage is billed per pallet position every two weeks — a $25 minimum or $0.04 per lb, whichever is greater — so you can scale up for a season and back down after it without renegotiating anything.

Is there free storage time?

Only on export shipments, which get the first month free. Imports and all other cargo accrue storage from the day they're received. We'll tell you the accrual date at receipt so there's no surprise on the invoice.

Can you receive a container directly and break it down?

Yes. We clear it, drag it to our facility, unload, segregate by SKU or by consignee, and either store it or push it straight out to distribution.

Do you offer bonded storage?

Our own facility is not bonded. When your cargo needs duty deferral we place it in a bonded warehouse, a Foreign Trade Zone or a CFS facility through our partner network, chosen for what your cargo and duty position actually require. We arrange it, manage it and bill it — you deal with us throughout, not with the facility.

Can you handle cool storage or perishables?

Not in our own building. Miami is the busiest perishables gateway in the U.S., and we place temperature-controlled and plant cargo with specialist facilities here, arranged to your temperature range and dwell time. Same principle as bonded storage — we manage it and stay your single point of contact.

Can I see my inventory?

Yes. We run Kappa Logistics as our warehouse management system, and you get a web portal login with full visibility of your inventory — no emailing us for a stock count.

Do you do e-commerce fulfillment?

We handle pick, pack and outbound to your carrier, with full visibility through the portal. We do not integrate directly with marketplace platforms — orders reach us from you rather than automatically from Amazon or Shopify. If a direct integration is essential to you, we'll say so upfront rather than after you've onboarded.

Tell us what you need to store.

Pallet count, how long, and what's on them. We'll send a rate and a receiving date.

Get a warehousing quote →
Specialized cargo

The shipments other forwarders turn down.

Aircraft on ground, perishables, plants, ISO tanks, project and out-of-gauge cargo, and freight that has to be carried by hand. Years of doing the awkward ones out of Miami.

MIA Gateway
SAME DAY AOG response
TSA IAC Air approved
FMC Licensed NVOCC

Tell us what makes it complicated.

The more unusual the shipment, the more useful it is to talk early. Send the details and we'll tell you whether it's doable and what it takes.

Describe your shipment →
Cargo agents · Trade partners

Your U.S. office. Without opening one.

Freight agents in 30+ countries use our Miami operation as their United States branch. Back-to-back house bills, so your client stays on your paper. A published fee model, so you know your margin before you quote.

30+ Countries
B2B HBL Your paper to your client
NON-SOLICIT In writing
2016 Founded
The problem

Your U.S. partner is your reputation in a market you can't see.

When they don't report, you can't answer your client. When they mark up quietly, your margin disappears and you find out at invoice. When they approach your client directly, you lose the account entirely.

We address all three in the agreement, not in conversation. Published agent rates, a defined reporting schedule, and a non-solicitation clause. And we structure the paperwork so your client is contracting with you, not with us.

The program

What you get

01

Back-to-back house bills

We issue our house bill to you. You issue your own house bill to your customer, under your name and your authority. Your client contracts with you and sees your paper — and every document is issued by the party legally entitled to issue it, which is what keeps it enforceable when something goes wrong.

02

A fee model you can see

Published agent rates. We don't take an undisclosed cut out of the middle of your quote, so you know your margin before you price the job.

03

Full U.S. scope

Customs clearance, ocean, air, warehousing, deconsolidation and inland delivery. One counterpart instead of four, and one invoice to reconcile.

04

Reporting you don't chase

Status back on a defined schedule so you always look informed to your client — not waiting on an email from another time zone.

05

Non-solicitation, in writing

We do not approach your clients commercially. It's a clause in the agreement, not a handshake. Where customs regulations require us to contact an importer directly, that contact is limited to the entry itself — never a sales approach.

06

Portal access

Track shipments and pull status yourself instead of emailing us for updates, so you can answer your client in their time zone rather than ours.

Your account

Your client stays yours. Not as a promise — as a structure.

Every U.S. partner will tell you they won't touch your customers. We built the paperwork so that they can't, and so that your documents still work when something goes wrong.

YOUR PAPER

Your customer contracts with you

We issue our house bill to you. You issue yours to your customer. They hold your document, with you as their carrier — nothing about the U.S. leg changes who their supplier is. That's how every serious agent network moves cargo, and it's why your account doesn't quietly become someone else's.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Protected twice over

A non-solicitation clause in the agency agreement, and a documentary structure that keeps us out of the commercial relationship. On the customs entry the power of attorney runs directly between your client and the licensed broker — as U.S. rules require — and any contact covers the entry and nothing else. Never a sales approach, and it's in writing.

YOUR CLAIM

Documents that actually pay out

When cargo goes missing or a truck has an accident, the party named on the document is the party who can prove performance and trigger the insurance. Every document we issue carries the name of the licensed entity entitled to issue it — which is what makes it enforceable, and what makes cover respond instead of lapse.

YOUR PARTNER

Someone who knows the rules cold

FMC and CBP requirements on shipping documents and powers of attorney are strict and actively enforced. A partner who gets them right is a partner whose shipments clear without regulatory surprises — and whose mistakes never become a conversation you have to have with your client.

Worth asking any prospective U.S. partner which entity holds the power of attorney on your clients' entries. The answer tells you how much thought they've given to protecting your account.

Onboarding

From first contact to first shipment.

01

Apply

Tell us your markets, your volumes and the services you need in the U.S.

02

Documents & references

Company registration, trade references, and your standard operating requirements.

03

Agreement & rate sheet

Agency agreement including the non-solicitation clause, plus your published rate schedule.

04

Portal setup

Accounts, branding and tracking access for your team.

05

First shipment

Your first booking moves as soon as the agreement is countersigned and portal access is live. We'll confirm the date with you rather than leave you guessing.

Network

Already working in 30+ countries.

AMERICAS · 12

Canada · Mexico · Guatemala · Honduras · El Salvador · Costa Rica · Panama · Colombia · Venezuela · Ecuador · Peru · Brazil

CARIBBEAN · 4  |  EUROPE · 5

Dominican Republic · Haiti · Jamaica · Puerto Rico

United Kingdom · Spain · Germany · Italy · Turkey

ASIA · 6  |  MEA · 3  |  OCEANIA · 1

China · Hong Kong · South Korea · Japan · India · Vietnam

United Arab Emirates · Oman · Uganda

Australia

Expand your reach with a U.S. partner you can verify.

Tell us your markets and your volumes. We'll send the agent rate sheet, the agency agreement with the non-solicitation clause, and the documentary structure in writing.

Apply to the agent program →

sales@iexlog.com · WhatsApp +1 (786) 236-6732

Courier processing · Trade partners

Your United States address, staffed and compliant.

Receiving, consolidation, screening and outbound processing for courier and casillero companies worldwide. You keep the customers. We handle the U.S. side.

100% Air cargo inspection
2/MIN Peak throughput
TSA IAC Approved
AIR + OCEAN Outbound
The problem

Your customers judge you on a leg you don't control.

How fast a package is received, scanned and dispatched in Miami is what your customer experiences as your service. But you can't see it, you can't speed it up, and when something goes missing your customer blames you — not your processor.

Pre-alerts are what fix this. When your customer pre-alerts a tracking number, our scan auto-populates every field from it — so the package appears in your system the moment it lands, and your customer stops asking you where it is.

The service

What happens to every package

Your customer shops and pre-alerts. Everything after that is ours.

01

Pre-alert

Your customer submits the tracking number against their account before the package ships. That single step is what makes everything downstream fast — and it's the one thing we need you to enforce with your customers.

02

Receive & scan

The package lands at our Miami facility and is scanned in, with a photo of the box or label. The scan matches the pre-alerted tracking number and auto-populates the record — no re-keying, no transcription errors.

03

Trace from that moment

Once scanned, the package is traceable in our system on the last six digits of the tracking number. Your customer service team can answer without calling us.

04

Process & label

Weight, dimensions, shipper, consignee and commodity are captured, and a unique waybill number is printed and assigned to the piece. Every package is individually identified from here to destination.

05

Screen

100% visual inspection on air courier cargo under TSA IAC requirements. Ocean moves per your customer documentation. Dangerous goods on ocean require an IMO declaration — we flag anything needing one before it becomes your problem at the port.

06

Consolidate

Assigned to a courier bag, e-container or D-container. When the unit fills, it's sealed and the next one opens immediately — there's no gap where packages sit waiting for a container to start.

07

Ship

Sealed units depart on your scheduled service, air or ocean, from Miami.

08

Manifest to destination

Each sealed unit generates a full cargo manifest — waybill, shipper, consignee, commodity, location. Your destination team can locate any individual package, and the pre-alert data is already there for customs declarations and corrections.

Throughput

Pre-alerts double our speed. That's a measurement, not a slogan.

How fast we process depends almost entirely on whether your customers pre-alert. When they do, the scan reads the tracking number and pulls the record instead of an operator keying it by hand.

Manual — no pre-alertevery field keyed by hand1 pkg / 2 min
Semi-automatic — with pre-alertscan populates the record1 pkg / min
Automated — pre-alert + equipmentdedicated scanning line2 pkg / min

Automated processing runs on dedicated equipment from $15,000. Worth discussing once your monthly volume justifies it — we'll work the break-even against your piece count before either of us commits.

Rates

Priced by weight, with a per-piece floor.

Your cost per package is predictable, so your retail pricing is yours to set. Consolidation, storage and outbound freight are quoted separately.

Courier processingper lb · $1.00 minimum per piece$0.95 – $1.35
Visual inspection — airTSA IAC compliantIncluded
Consolidation & palletizingper outbound unitOn request
Storage beyond free timeper piece per dayOn request

Where you land in the range depends on volume and pre-alert compliance — the two things that drive our cost per piece.

Request the rate card →
Pre-alert spec

What your customers submit — and why it pays you back.

Two fields are mandatory. The rest are optional but genuinely worth chasing, because the same data we use to process the package is the data your destination team uses for the customs declaration.

MANDATORY
  • Registered account number — the consignee's account with you
  • Tracking number — the retailer's, exactly as issued

Without these two, the package arrives unmatched and has to be keyed by hand — which is the difference between one package a minute and one every two minutes.

RECOMMENDED
  • Consignee name
  • Shipper name — Amazon, Temu, Shein
  • Commodity description
  • Commodity value
  • Invoice or order screenshot

This is what feeds the destination customs declaration. Collected at pre-alert, it costs your customer thirty seconds. Collected after arrival, it costs your team a phone call per package.

We'll supply a co-brandable pre-alert guide you can hand your own customers under your name, so you're not writing the instructions yourself.

Questions

Courier FAQ

How quickly does a package appear in the system?

Packages are scanned as we receive them from the carrier, so in most cases your customer can see it the same day it arrives. The exception is when a carrier drops a full gaylord rather than individual pieces — that has to be broken down before scanning, which adds time. Throughput once we're scanning is roughly one package per minute with pre-alerts, one every two minutes without.

What's the difference between air and ocean compliance?

Air courier cargo gets 100% visual inspection under TSA IAC requirements. Ocean moves according to your customer documentation. Dangerous goods on ocean require an IMO declaration — we'll tell you when one is needed.

How does tracking work for our customers?

Once scanned in, a package can be located in our system using the last six digits of the tracking number. After processing it also carries a unique waybill number, which appears on the cargo manifest for the sealed unit it ships in — so your destination team can find any individual piece.

Can we get the data into our own system?

Yes. Our system is open — all of your data can be downloaded in HTML format, including manifests, package records and status. If you run your own platform, you're not locked out of your own information or dependent on us to send you a report.

What happens to a package with no pre-alert?

We still receive and process it — nothing is refused for a missing pre-alert. It just takes about twice as long per piece, and the commodity and value details have to be recovered from the package itself or from you afterwards. Pre-alert compliance is one of the two things that moves your rate within the range.

What happens with restricted items?

We process everything that arrives. Restricted items — cash, gold, arms, ammunition and similar — are moved to a segregated hold zone in the warehouse and placed on a separate hold manifest rather than into your outbound consolidation. You're told what's being held and why, so you can deal with your customer before it becomes a problem at a border.

Who handles customs at destination?

You do, through your own customs agent. Our relationship is with you and ends when the sealed unit ships from Miami — we don't insert ourselves between you and your destination broker. What we provide is the manifest data they need: waybill, shipper, consignee, commodity and value, carried through from your customer's pre-alert.

Send us your monthly piece count.

We'll come back with tiered per-piece pricing, the processing SLA, and a start date.

Request processing rates →
Services

One partner. Multiple solutions.

Freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, courier processing, AOG and multimodal solutions — coordinated by one licensed company in Miami, with the fees published.

FMC Licensed NVOCC
CHB 5 broker network
TSA IAC Approved
MIA Own Warehouse

Not sure which one you need?

Describe what you're moving and we'll tell you which services apply and what they cost.

Get a quote →
Specialized cargo · AOG

The aircraft is down. Everything else is negotiable.

Aircraft on ground service out of Miami. Same-day response, every routing option on the table including hand carry, and one person who stays on it until the part is in your engineer's hands.

SAME DAY Response
24/7 Ops line
OBC Hand carry available
TSA IAC Approved
The problem

Every hour has a number attached to it.

A grounded aircraft doesn't just stop earning. It strands crew, cancels rotations, and pushes delay costs down the whole schedule. Meanwhile the part exists — it's sitting in a warehouse somewhere with a forwarder who quotes you next-day and means next-business-day.

AOG isn't a service level. It's a different way of working. The question is never "what's your rate" — it's "what is the fastest this can physically move, and who is watching it."

What we do

Fastest available, not fastest convenient.

01

Answer immediately

Call operations directly. No quote form, no ticket queue, no waiting for a rep to come back from lunch. You get a person who can make decisions.

02

Price the routings, not the rate

We come back with options and what each one actually delivers: next flight out, split shipment, or an onboard courier flying with it. You choose against a clock, not a tariff.

03

Book and move

Pickup arranged while the booking is being made rather than after. TSA IAC approved, so air screening happens in-house instead of adding a handoff.

04

Clear ahead of arrival

The entry is prepared while the part is in the air, not started when it lands. We work with five licensed brokers, so there is always one available — a single broker on holiday is not your problem.

05

One person, whole way

The same contact from the first call to the delivery signature. You never re-explain the situation to a night shift.

06

Told before you ask

Status pushed to you at every milestone. If something slips, you hear it from us with the recovery plan already attached.

Before you call

What we need in the first sixty seconds.

  • What the part is — a description is enough to start
  • Where it is now — supplier, city, and whether it's released
  • Where the aircraft is — airport code
  • Weight and dimensions — approximate is fine
  • Dangerous goods — batteries, chemicals, pressurized units
  • Who signs for it — name and mobile at destination

Don't wait to have all of it. Call with what you know and we'll start moving while you find the rest.

If it's AOG, don't fill in a form.

Call operations. We'll have routing options back to you inside the hour, and pickup arranged before you've approved one.

+1 (786) 399-5642+1 (786) 399-5642

24 hours · sales@iexlog.com

Specialized cargo · Perishables

Cargo with a clock on it.

Flowers, produce, seafood, pharmaceuticals and plants through Miami — the busiest perishables gateway in the United States. Cool storage arranged with specialist facilities and managed by us throughout.

MIA Perishables gateway
COOL Partner facilities
USDA/FDA Filings
AIR/OCEAN Both modes
The problem

The cargo doesn't wait for the paperwork.

Perishable freight fails in the gaps. It sits on a hot ramp because nobody arranged cool storage for the four hours between arrival and clearance. It's held for a USDA inspection nobody filed for. It clears late on a Friday and spends the weekend at ambient.

None of those are transport failures. They're coordination failures. The freight was fine; the handoffs weren't. That's the part we own.

What we do

The gaps are where we work.

01

Book the cold chain first

Cool storage is arranged before the cargo moves, not requested when it lands. We place it with the specialist facility that matches your temperature range and expected dwell.

02

File ahead of arrival

FDA, USDA and APHIS requirements identified at booking and filed pre-arrival. If your commodity needs a permit you don't have, you find out before you buy, not at the border.

03

Clear on arrival

The entry is ready when the aircraft or vessel is, so the cargo isn't sitting warm while paperwork gets typed. We use the broker in our network with the right agency experience for your commodity.

04

Watch the calendar

We won't route a temperature-sensitive shipment into a Friday arrival without telling you what the weekend exposure looks like and what it costs to avoid it.

05

One counterpart

The cool facility, the trucker and the broker are our problem to coordinate. You deal with us, and we stay accountable for the partners we choose.

06

Move it out fast

Onward delivery booked against the clearance time, so the cargo leaves as soon as it's released rather than waiting for a truck to be found.

Tell us early

What changes the plan.

  • Commodity and origin country — drives which agency has jurisdiction
  • Required temperature range — and the tolerance either side
  • Shelf life on arrival — how much clock you have left
  • Permits already held — or that you think you need
  • Packaging — gel, dry ice, active reefer, insulated
  • Arrival window — and whether a weekend is acceptable

Dry ice is a dangerous good by air and must be declared. Tell us at booking, not at the airport.

Send us the commodity before you send the cargo.

Tell us what it is, where it's coming from and what temperature it needs. We'll come back with the routing, the agency requirements and the cost — before you commit to a purchase date.

Get a perishables quote →
Specialized cargo · Project

It doesn't fit in a container. That's the easy part.

Oversized, heavy-lift, out-of-gauge and multi-piece project cargo. Route surveys, permits, lifting gear and the sequencing that decides whether any of it arrives in the right order.

OOG Out-of-gauge
FLAT RACK & breakbulk
PERMITS Route surveys
60+ Carrier network
The problem

Oversized cargo fails on the ground, not at sea.

The ocean leg is rarely what goes wrong. What goes wrong is a bridge clearance nobody measured, a permit that takes eleven days in a state you're crossing on day four, a crane booked for a delivery that arrives a week late, or three pieces of one machine landing on three different vessels.

Project cargo is a sequencing problem wearing a freight costume. Everything has to happen in an order, and one late permit reorders all of it.

What we do

Plan it backwards from the delivery.

01

Survey the route first

Height, width, weight and turning radius checked against the actual road, not the map. Bridges, overpasses and weight-restricted spans identified before anything is booked.

02

Permits on the critical path

State permits have lead times that vary and don't care about your schedule. We start them first and build the transport plan around when they land.

03

Pick the equipment to the cargo

Flat rack, open top, breakbulk or roll-on depending on dimensions and what's realistic at both ports — not on what's cheapest to book.

04

Keep the set together

Multi-piece consignments routed to arrive together where possible, and sequenced deliberately where not. You get the base before the superstructure.

05

Coordinate the lift

Crane and rigging booked against the confirmed delivery window, with the contingency named in advance rather than improvised on the day.

06

Clear the unusual stuff

Heavy machinery classification, partial shipments of a single unit, and duty treatment for equipment arriving in pieces — handled by a broker in the same building.

To scope it

What we need to quote a project.

  • Dimensions and weight per piece — including the centre of gravity if known
  • Number of pieces — and whether they're one unit or independent
  • Origin and final site address — site, not nearest city
  • Lifting points — and whether the cargo can be laid down
  • Site access — road width, overhead lines, ground bearing
  • Required on-site date — and what depends on it

Photographs and a general arrangement drawing shorten this conversation by about a week.

Bring us in before the equipment is bought.

The cheapest project moves are the ones where transport was considered at specification. Send dimensions and a delivery site and we'll tell you what's feasible and what it costs.

Discuss a project move →
Specialized cargo · ISO tanks

Bulk liquids move on paperwork.

ISO tank containers for bulk liquid movement, including the dangerous goods declarations, tank suitability and cleaning documentation that stop most of these shipments before they start.

IMO DG declarations
T-CODE Tank suitability
OCEAN Port to door
FMC Licensed NVOCC
The problem

The tank is the simple bit.

A rejected booking, a container refused at the gate, a shipment held because the last cargo carried isn't documented, or a tank that turns out not to be rated for what you're putting in it. Lines refuse dangerous goods bookings routinely, and once you're refused on one, the next one is harder.

Almost every ISO tank failure is a documentation failure. The liquid was fine. The declaration wasn't.

What we do

Get the paperwork right before booking anything.

01

Classify the product

UN number, packing group and IMO class established from your safety data sheet before we approach a line. Wrong classification is the most common reason a booking dies.

02

Match tank to cargo

T-code, lining, heating, pressure rating and valve configuration checked against your product. A tank that can't legally carry it is a tank you're paying to reposition.

03

Prove the cleaning

Last-three-cargoes and cleaning certificates assembled up front. Contamination claims are expensive and they're won or lost on this paperwork.

04

Declare properly

The IMO dangerous goods declaration prepared correctly the first time. Ocean shipments of dangerous goods require it, and lines reject on detail.

05

Book with the right carrier

Not every line accepts every class on every service. We go to the ones that will, rather than burning a week being refused by the ones that won't.

06

Handle the destination

Customs entry, any additional agency filings, and drayage by an operator equipped and permitted to move a loaded tank.

To quote

What we need from you.

  • Safety data sheet — the single most useful document you can send
  • UN number and packing group — if already established
  • Volume and specific gravity
  • Temperature requirements — heated, insulated or ambient
  • Origin and destination — including whether the site can receive a tank
  • Tank ownership — yours, leased, or to be arranged

Send the SDS first. Most of the questions above answer themselves from it.

Send the safety data sheet.

We'll tell you what class it is, what tank it needs, which lines will take it and what it costs — before you commit to a shipping date.

Get an ISO tank quote →
Specialized cargo · Hand carry

Someone books a seat and flies with it.

Onboard courier for cargo that genuinely cannot wait or cannot leave someone's hands. Hand to hand from your door to theirs, on the next departure with a seat on it.

OBC Onboard courier
NEXT FLIGHT Departure
HAND TO HAND Custody
24/7 Ops line
The problem

Some cargo can't be put in a system.

Express freight is fast until it isn't. It moves between hubs, sits overnight for a sort, gets held for a document, and travels alongside everything else. For a production line stoppage, a clinical trial sample, a certification document or an irreplaceable prototype, "usually next day" isn't an answer.

A hand carry removes the system. One person, one seat, continuous custody, and no sort facility anywhere in the chain.

What we do

The fastest legal way to move something.

01

Find the departure first

We work backwards from the next flight with both a seat and a realistic connection, then decide whether collection is feasible against it. The flight sets the plan.

02

Collect in person

The courier collects from your site. No drop-off, no depot, no handover to a network — custody starts at your door.

03

Continuous custody

The item stays with the courier through check-in, security and the flight. Nothing is checked into a hold unless you've agreed to it.

04

Clear on landing

Customs entry prepared in advance so the courier walks through rather than waits. We line up the broker before the flight departs, not after it lands.

05

Deliver to a named person

Hand to hand, to the individual you nominate, with signature and time recorded. Not to a mailroom.

06

Tracked by human

You get position updates from the person carrying it, not from a scan event. If a connection breaks, you know before the aircraft lands.

Before we book

What determines whether this works.

  • Collection address and readiness time — when is it actually in hand
  • Delivery address and the named recipient
  • Weight and dimensions — cabin, checked, or neither
  • Value and contents — for customs and insurance
  • Dangerous goods — lithium batteries in particular
  • Visa requirements — for the destination the courier is entering

Visas and dangerous goods are what kill hand carries. Both are knowable in the first ten minutes, so we check them first.

If it has to be there, call.

Hand carry is decided in minutes, not quoted in days. Tell us what it is, where it starts and where it has to be.

+1 (786) 399-5642+1 (786) 399-5642

24 hours · sales@iexlog.com

Guide · Seller's side

Incoterms for exporters.

All eleven Incoterms 2020 rules, read from the seller's side: what each one costs you, where your risk ends, and which to quote when. No diagram required.

Short answer

Incoterms are eleven standard rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define who pays for what, and where risk passes, in an international sale. For most exporters the right term is FCA on air, truck and multimodal shipments, and FOB on ocean. Both mean you clear the goods for export and hand them over at origin, so your risk ends early while the buyer controls the main carriage.

Avoid EXW — a foreign buyer usually cannot file U.S. export declarations, so the obligation returns to you without a contract that pays for it.

Incoterms 2020 · Reviewed 7 August 2026 · Imports Exports Logistics, Inc.

The rules

What each term costs you as the seller.

The single most expensive mistake in exporting is agreeing to a term you haven't priced. Risk and cost do not always transfer at the same point — under CFR, CIF, CPT and CIP they deliberately don't.

TermNameYou payYour risk endsExport clearance
EXW Ex WorksAny mode Nothing past your loading dock At your premises, when goods are made available Buyer
Lowest headline price you can quote. But the buyer often can't file U.S. export declarations, so the obligation lands back on you anyway — and you lose all visibility. Quote FCA instead nine times out of ten.
FCA Free CarrierAny mode Export clearance, and delivery to the named place On loading at your premises, or when placed at the buyer's carrier You
The term EXW should usually be. You clear export — which you're equipped to do — and risk ends early. Under Incoterms 2020 you can also require an on-board bill of lading, which matters if your buyer pays by letter of credit.
FAS Free Alongside ShipSea only Inland haulage and export clearance, to the quay Alongside the vessel at the named port You
Bulk and breakbulk cargo. Rarely right for containers, because your risk ends before the container is loaded.
FOB Free On BoardSea only Everything to the vessel, including export clearance When goods are on board the vessel You
The most common ocean term and usually the fairest split. Quote this unless you have a reason not to.
CFR Cost and FreightSea only Ocean freight to the destination port On board at origin — before you've paid the freight You
When you want to control the carrier and routing. Note the gap: you pay to destination but your risk ended at origin. Insure it anyway.
CIF Cost, Insurance & FreightSea only Ocean freight plus insurance to the destination port On board at origin You
Letters of credit often demand it. The catch: minimum cover is Institute Cargo Clauses (C) — thin. Buy better cover than the term requires.
CPT Carriage Paid ToAny mode Carriage to the named destination When handed to the first carrier You
The multimodal equivalent of CFR. Watch the risk transfer point — it's much earlier than most sellers assume.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid ToAny mode Carriage plus insurance to the named destination When handed to the first carrier You
Since Incoterms 2020, CIP requires all-risks cover (ICC A), not the minimum CIF allows. Better protection for your buyer, higher cost to you — price it in.
DAP Delivered At PlaceAny mode Everything to the named destination, not unloaded On arrival at the destination, ready for unloading You
A strong offer that stops short of foreign duty exposure. Often the smart alternative to DDP.
DPU Delivered at Place UnloadedAny mode Everything to destination including unloading After unloading at the named destination You
Replaced DAT in Incoterms 2020. The only term where you're responsible for unloading — make sure you can actually do it at that site.
DDP Delivered Duty PaidAny mode Everything, including foreign import duty and taxes On arrival at the buyer's door You (both ends)
The strongest offer you can make and the one most likely to cost more than you quoted. Never quote it without checking the destination duty rate and whether a foreign entity may act as importer of record there — in several countries it can't.
sea and inland waterway onlyAll others work for any mode, including air and truck
Three traps

Where exporters actually lose money.

01

Quoting EXW to a foreign buyer

Your buyer usually can't file U.S. export declarations — they have no U.S. presence. The obligation returns to you, but now you're doing it without control of the shipment or a contract that pays you for it. Quote FCA.

02

Assuming cost and risk transfer together

Under CFR, CIF, CPT and CIP you pay the freight to destination but your risk ended at origin. If the cargo is damaged mid-ocean, it's the buyer's loss — and their claim. Many sellers discover this after the fact.

03

Quoting DDP without checking

Foreign duty rates vary enormously, and in several countries a non-resident entity cannot legally act as importer of record at all. Quote DAP instead and let your buyer clear it.

Changed in 2020

What's different from Incoterms 2010.

DAT became DPUDelivered at Place UnloadedRenamed & broadened
CIP insurance raised to ICC (A)All-risks cover, not minimumCosts the seller more
FCA on-board bill of lading optionFor letters of creditNew provision
Own-transport delivery recognisedFCA, DAP, DPU, DDPClarified

Incoterms 2010 remains valid if your contract specifies it. Always state which version — "FOB Miami Incoterms 2020", not just "FOB".

Common questions

Exporter questions, answered.

Which Incoterm should an exporter quote?

FCA for air, truck and multimodal shipments, and FOB for ocean. Both mean the seller clears the goods for export and hands them over at origin, so risk ends early while the buyer controls the main carriage. Avoid EXW, because a foreign buyer usually cannot file U.S. export declarations.

Do cost and risk transfer at the same point?

Not always. Under CFR, CIF, CPT and CIP the seller pays carriage to the destination but risk transfers at origin — either on board the vessel or at the first carrier. You pay for a journey during which the goods are already at your buyer's risk. Insure accordingly.

What changed in Incoterms 2020?

DAT was renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded). CIP now requires all-risks insurance under Institute Cargo Clauses A rather than minimum cover. FCA gained an option for an on-board bill of lading, which matters for letters of credit. And delivery using the seller's or buyer's own transport is explicitly recognised.

Is DDP a good term to quote?

It's the strongest offer you can make and the one most likely to cost more than you quoted. You pay foreign import duty and taxes, and in several countries a non-resident entity cannot legally act as importer of record at all. DAP is usually the safer alternative.

Which version should my contract cite?

Always state the version explicitly — "FOB Miami Incoterms 2020", not just "FOB". Incoterms 2010 remains valid if your contract specifies it, and the two differ on points that matter.

Not sure which term to quote?

Tell us the destination and what you're selling. We'll tell you which term protects you, what it costs, and what your buyer will accept.

Get an export quote →

General guidance, not legal advice. Your sales contract governs.

Guide · Buyer's side

Incoterms for importers.

All eleven Incoterms 2020 rules from the buyer's side: what you're actually paying for under each, where your risk begins, and which ones to push back on.

Short answer

Incoterms are eleven standard rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define who pays for what, and where risk passes, in an international sale. For most importers the best term is FOB on ocean shipments and FCA on air or truck. Both put your supplier in charge of export clearance at origin, and put you in charge of the freight and the U.S. side — where you can actually control cost.

Push back on CIF and DDP. Under both, your supplier chooses the forwarder, and you inherit destination charges you have no leverage over.

Incoterms 2020 · Reviewed 7 August 2026 · Imports Exports Logistics, Inc.

The rules

What each term costs you as the buyer.

Your supplier quotes a term alongside the price, and it decides how much of the journey you're paying for. The same unit price under two different terms is two different deals.

TermNameYou payYour risk startsExport clearance
EXW Ex WorksAny mode Everything from the supplier's dock onwards At the supplier's premises You
Cheapest unit price because it covers the least. You're now responsible for export formalities in a country you're not in. Push for FCA instead — it costs the supplier almost nothing and removes a real risk from you.
FCA Free CarrierAny mode From the named place onwards When collected, or at the named place Supplier
The best term to ask for when EXW is offered. Supplier clears export, you control the freight. Under Incoterms 2020 you can request an on-board bill of lading, which your bank may need.
FAS Free Alongside ShipSea only Loading, ocean freight, and everything after Alongside the vessel at origin Supplier
Mostly bulk cargo. If you're buying containers and see FAS, ask why.
FOB Free On BoardSea only From the vessel onwards When goods are on board at origin Supplier
Usually the best term for an importer. You gain control of the carrier, the rate and the destination side without inheriting foreign paperwork.
CFR Cost and FreightSea only Clearance and delivery at your end On board at origin — you carry the risk while the supplier's carrier moves it Supplier
Freight is in the price, but the supplier picked the carrier. You'll inherit their agent's destination charges with no leverage over them.
CIF Cost, Insurance & FreightSea only Clearance and delivery at your end On board at origin Supplier
Looks convenient. The most common source of surprise arrival fees. Insurance is minimum cover only — check what's actually insured before you rely on it.
CPT Carriage Paid ToAny mode Clearance and delivery at destination When the supplier hands to the first carrier — very early Supplier
You carry risk for most of the journey while the supplier controls the routing. Insure it yourself.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid ToAny mode Clearance and delivery at destination At the first carrier Supplier
Since 2020 the supplier must buy all-risks cover, which is a genuine improvement over CIF. Ask for the certificate.
DAP Delivered At PlaceAny mode Import clearance, duty, and unloading On arrival at your site Supplier
Good balance. The supplier handles the freight, you keep control of clearance and your own broker.
DPU Delivered at Place UnloadedAny mode Import clearance and duty only After unloading at your site Supplier
Useful when you don't have unloading equipment. Confirm the supplier understands what unloading at your site actually requires.
DDP Delivered Duty PaidAny mode Nothing extra — in theory At your door Supplier (both ends)
Simplest to buy, but you're paying a marked-up price for logistics you can't audit. And you generally remain liable to CBP for the accuracy of the entry regardless of who filed it. Convenience, not protection.
sea and inland waterway onlyAll others work for any mode, including air and truck
Three traps

Where importers lose the margin they thought they had.

01

Accepting CIF because freight is included

Your supplier picked the carrier and the forwarder. Their destination agent bills you whatever they decide, and you have no leverage. The freight you "saved" comes back as arrival charges you didn't budget.

02

Taking EXW to get the lowest price

You've just made yourself responsible for export formalities in a country you have no presence in. The quote is lower because it covers less. Ask for FCA — it costs your supplier almost nothing.

03

Assuming DDP means no liability

Your supplier pays the duty, but you generally remain liable to CBP for the accuracy of the entry. DDP buys you convenience, not protection — and you're paying a marked-up price for logistics you can't audit.

In short

If you only remember one thing.

Ask for FOB on ocean, or FCA on air and truck. Both put your supplier in charge of getting the goods cleared and loaded at origin — which they're equipped to do — and put you in charge of the freight and the U.S. side, where you can actually control cost.

If a supplier insists on CIF or DDP, that's usually a sign the logistics margin matters to them. Ask what the destination charges will be, in writing, before you agree the price.

See what the U.S. side actually costs →
Common questions

Importer questions, answered.

Which Incoterm is best for an importer?

FOB on ocean shipments and FCA on air or truck. Both put the supplier in charge of export clearance and loading at origin — which they're equipped to do — and put you in charge of the main carriage and the destination side, where you can actually control cost.

Why is CIF a problem?

Your supplier chooses the carrier and the forwarder, so you inherit whatever destination charges their agent decides to bill, with no leverage over them. CIF is the most common source of unexpected arrival charges. The insurance is also minimum cover only, under Institute Cargo Clauses C.

Should I accept EXW to get a lower price?

Usually not. EXW is cheaper because it covers less — you become responsible for export formalities in a country where you have no presence. Asking for FCA instead costs your supplier very little and removes that exposure entirely.

Does DDP remove my customs liability?

No. Your supplier pays the freight, clearance and duty, but as importer of record you generally remain liable to CBP for the accuracy of the entry and the correctness of the classification. DDP buys convenience, not protection.

What does the U.S. side actually cost?

Customs entry is $175, ISF filing $65, a single-entry bond starts at $95, and handling and documentation is $150 — from $485 for a standard import, whatever the shipment size. See the full rate card →

Send us the term your supplier quoted.

We'll tell you what it means for your landed cost, whether it's in your interest, and what to ask for instead.

Get an import quote →

General guidance, not legal advice. Your purchase contract governs.

Pricing

What everything costs.

Most logistics companies won't tell you their prices until you're on the phone. That wastes your time and ours. Below is every fee we charge, what's flat, what's variable, and what drives the variable part.

FLAT Published service fees
AT COST Duties & government fees
1 DAY Quote turnaround
Import services

Import services

Clearance, ISF and handling don't change with shipment size — one carton or a 40′ HC, same price. The bond is the only line that scales, and it scales with cargo value.

Customs entry & clearanceCBP entry filing · HTS classification · duty calculation$175
ISF filing (10+2)Filed inside the 24-hour pre-loading window$65
Single-entry customs bond$13 per $1,000 of commercial value · $95 minimumfrom $95
Handling & documentationB/L · arrival notice · coordination$150
Standard import packagethe four lines above · at minimum bondfrom $485
Instead of the single-entry bond
Annual continuous bondUnlimited entries, 12 months · standard $50,000 bond$650

This replaces the single-entry bond, it isn't added to it. Above roughly seven shipments a year — or one shipment of about $50,000 in value — it costs less. Work out which is cheaper for you:

Other services

Exports, warehousing, courier & agent rates

Where a minimum and a weight-based rate are both shown, the higher of the two applies.

Export documentationpreparation and review$35
AES / EEI filingper shipment$35
Warehouse storageper pallet position, biweekly · or $0.04/lb · accrues from day onefrom $25
Container loadingper 20′ / 40′ container$350 / $450
Warehouse in & outminimum · or $0.04/lbfrom $25
Courier processingper piece · or $0.85/lbfrom $1.00
Agent ratesset in your agency agreementPer agreement
Variable

Quoted per shipment — and what drives them

Ocean freight — FCL / LCLLane · container type · season · GRIs
Air freightChargeable weight · lane · service level
Inland deliveryDistance · weight · accessorials
Cargo insurance% of declared value
Specialized handlingCommodity & requirements
At cost

Passed through, never marked up

Duties · Taxes · Harbor Maintenance Fee · Merchandise Processing Fee · CBP exam fees · Demurrage · Per diem · Terminal handling

Tools

Work it out yourself.

01

Landed cost calculator

Origin, destination ZIP and container type → estimated all-in range.

Coming soon
02

Bond decision tool

Shipments a year and value per shipment → single-entry or annual, with your break-even point.

Check my bond →
03

Rate card

Everything on this page as one document you can forward internally or attach to a budget. Free PDF, no email required.

Download PDF ↓View on page →

Numbers look right? Get the firm one.

A quote takes one business day and holds for 14. No call required.

Get a quote →
Tool · Customs bonds

Single-entry or annual bond?

CBP requires a bond on commercial imports. You can buy one per shipment or one for the year. Two numbers decide which is cheaper.

Your numbers
Cost per shipment, both options

A single-entry bond costs the same on every shipment. The annual bond costs $650 once, so the more you ship, the less it works out to per shipment. Where the two meet is your break-even.

Result

Single-entry bonds
Annual continuous bondUnlimited entries · 12 months · standard $50,000 bond$650
You save

The math

Why cargo value matters as much as shipment count

A single-entry bond is priced at $13 per $1,000 of commercial value, with a $95 minimum — the invoice value of the goods, not including duties. The minimum only applies below about $7,300; above that, the bond cost climbs with the value of your cargo. An annual continuous bond is a flat $650 covering unlimited entries for twelve months.

Both cover the bond only. ISF is filed separately at $65 per shipment either way, so it doesn't affect which bond is cheaper.

$5,000 per shipment$95 min · 7 entries
$10,000 per shipment$130 · 5 entries
$25,000 per shipment$325 · 2 entries
$50,000 per shipment$650 · 1 entry
$100,000 per shipment$1,300 · 1 entry

Right-hand column shows the cost per single entry and how many entries before the annual bond wins.

Beyond the money

Three reasons importers switch even when single-entry is cheaper.

01

No per-shipment delay

A single-entry bond has to be arranged for each shipment. A continuous bond is already on file, so the entry can be filed the moment documents arrive.

02

One less thing to get wrong

A missing or insufficient bond stops the entry and starts the demurrage clock. That risk disappears with a continuous bond.

03

It scales with you

If your volume grows mid-year, a continuous bond absorbs it without another purchase or another decision.

Ready to set the bond up?

Tell us your commodity and volume and we'll quote the bond alongside the clearance.

Get a quote →

Estimates only. Continuous bond assumes the standard $50,000 bond amount; importers whose duties, taxes and fees exceed $500,000 a year need a larger bond, quoted separately.

Rate card

Every fee we charge, on one page.

The same figures published across this site, collected as a single document you can forward internally or attach to a budget. Updated August 2026.

Free download, no email required. PDF, 3 pages, 450 KB — updated August 2026.

FLAT Published service fees
AT COST Duties & government fees
AUG 2026 Effective
Import services

Standard import package

Clearance, ISF and handling don't change with shipment size. The bond is the only line that scales, and it scales with cargo value rather than volume.

Customs entry & clearanceCBP entry filing · HTS classification · duty calculation$175
ISF filing (10+2)Ocean only · filed inside the 24-hour pre-loading window$65
Single-entry customs bond$13 per $1,000 of commercial value · $95 minimumfrom $95
Handling & documentationB/L · arrival notice · coordination$150
Standard import packagethe four lines above · at minimum bondfrom $485
Instead of the single-entry bond
Annual continuous bondUnlimited entries, 12 months · standard $50,000 bond$650

Replaces the single-entry bond rather than adding to it. Work out which is cheaper →

Worked example

A first container, start to finish

Asia → your warehouse in Doral, FL · one 40′ HC · $15,000 of goods.

Ocean freightport to port, incl. BAF · quoted per lane$3,180
IEXLOG import servicesclearance $175 + ISF $65 + bond $195 + handling $150$585
Inland deliverydrayage + 50 mi delivery + chassis$640
All-in landed cost$4,405

Duties and taxes pass through at cost, per your HTS code.

Other services

Exports, warehousing & courier

Where a minimum and a weight-based rate are both shown, the higher of the two applies.

Export documentationpreparation and review$35
AES / EEI filingper shipment$35
Warehouse storageper pallet position, biweekly · or $0.04/lb · accrues from day onefrom $25
Warehouse in & outminimum · or $0.04/lbfrom $25
Container loadingper 20′ / 40′ container$350 / $450
Courier processingper lb · $1.00 minimum per piece$0.95 – $1.35

Export shipments receive the first month of storage free. Agent rates are set in your agency agreement.

Variable

Quoted per shipment

Ocean freight — FCL / LCLLane · container type · season · GRIs
Air freightChargeable weight · lane · service level
Inland delivery & drayageDistance · weight · accessorials
Cargo insurance% of declared value
Specialized handlingCommodity & requirements

Passed through at cost, never marked up: duties · taxes · Harbor Maintenance Fee · Merchandise Processing Fee · CBP exam fees · demurrage · per diem · terminal handling

Numbers look right? Get the firm one.

A quote takes one business day and holds for 14. No call required.

Get a quote →

Rates effective August 2026 and subject to change. Published rates do not constitute a binding offer; firm pricing is provided per quotation.

Quote

What are you moving?

Pick your service and we'll ask only for what's relevant. One business day for a firm quote — same day for AOG.

In a hurry

AOG and emergencies — call, don't type.

CSR +1 (800) 707-0194 · Ops +1 (786) 399-5642 · WhatsApp +1 (786) 236-6732

Resources

Things worth knowing before you ship.

The rate bulletin, the tools, and plain-English explainers for the parts of trade that cost people money when they get them wrong.

Bulletin

Rate Bulletin — every two weeks

ISSUE 014 · JUN 16–30

Asia → Florida ocean rates, landed and laid bare

South China space loosening post-holiday, spot rates softened 8–12% vs late May. GRI expected around July 1 — lock pricing before then if your booking window allows.

Read issue →
ISSUE 013 · JUN 1–15

Vietnam capacity and the Haiphong squeeze

Placeholder — archive entry.

Read issue →
ISSUE 012 · MAY 16–31

Section 122 surcharge: what expires and when

Placeholder — archive entry.

Read issue →

Replaces the current six generic “What is Maritime Transport?” blog posts. Those are template filler with frozen January 2025 date stamps — they rank for nothing commercial and make the site look abandoned. Archive them.

Tools & guides

Free, no email required

Everything here is open. We would rather you arrive knowing what things cost than fill in a form to find out.

TOOL

Landed cost calculator

Estimate your all-in cost before you request a quote. Coming soon.

TOOL

Bond decision tool

Single-entry or annual — with your break-even point.

Open tool →
PDF

Rate card

Every fee we charge, on three pages. Free, no email required.

Download PDF ↓View on page →
GUIDE

Incoterms for importers

All eleven terms from the buyer's side — what you're paying for under each, and which to push back on.

Open guide →
GUIDE

Incoterms for exporters

The same eleven from the seller's side — what each costs you to quote, and where the traps are.

Open guide →
GUIDE

Import document checklist

Exactly what to request from your supplier.

GUIDE

First-time importer walkthrough

From supplier agreement to delivered pallet.

GLOSSARY

Trade terms

BAF, GRI, ISF, MPF, HMF, drayage, per diem — decoded.

About

Ten years on the U.S. side.

Imports Exports Logistics, Inc. has operated from Miami since June 2016 as a licensed freight forwarder, FMC-licensed NVOCC and warehouse operator, working with five licensed U.S. customs brokers — the United States end of trade for importers, exporters and agents in 30+ countries.

2016 Founded
MIA Head office & warehouse
30+ Agent countries
60+ Carrier network
Licensing

Verify us before you trust us.

Every claim below is checkable in a public database. That's the point of listing them.

FMC

Ocean Transportation Intermediary

FMC-licensed NVOCC — searchable in the Federal Maritime Commission public database.

CBP

Five licensed customs brokers

We are not a licensed customs broker ourselves. We coordinate entry filing through five licensed U.S. brokers, which gives coverage at more ports, a broker matched to your commodity, and no single point of failure when one is at capacity.

TSA

Indirect Air Carrier

TSA IAC approved for air cargo handling and screening.

MIA

Own facility

Office and warehouse at 6820 NW 77th Ct, Miami, FL 33166.

One partner, multiple solutions.

Whatever needs to happen to your cargo in the United States, it happens here.

Get a quote →

SEO values — current page