Customs Documentation / Customs Clearance

Customs clearance is the regulatory gateway for international freight. Before goods can enter a country, the importer (or their customs broker) must submit a defined set of documents to the destination country's customs authority – proving what the goods are, where they came from, what they're worth, and that they comply with all applicable trade regulations. Until customs clears the shipment, the freight sits – in a bonded warehouse, at the port, or in a container yard – accruing storage charges.

The core customs documentation set typically includes the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (ocean) or airway bill (air), customs entry form or declaration, certificate of origin (especially relevant for preferential duty rates under trade agreements), and any product-specific permits or certifications. For food and agricultural products, this often extends to phytosanitary certificates, FDA prior notice filings, and FSMA-related documentation. Each importing country has its own requirements, and the specifics vary by commodity, value, and origin.

Customs delays are expensive and disruptive. A missing document, an incorrect HS code, or a discrepancy between the commercial invoice and the actual shipment can trigger holds, inspections, or penalties. For temperature-sensitive freight – frozen food, fresh produce, perishable ingredients – a customs delay can mean product spoilage and total loss. Shippers who move freight internationally need tight coordination between their freight forwarder, customs broker, and logistics team to ensure documentation is complete and accurate before the shipment arrives at the destination port.

While most domestic TMS platforms don't manage the customs brokerage process directly, having international shipment visibility and documentation in one system – alongside domestic freight – reduces the coordination gaps that cause clearance problems.