Who are the main actors involved in a cross-border shipment?

It is important to know each actor involved in a cross-border operation, and the role each one plays to ensure its success. The following are based on FTL (Full truckload) movements of dry vans.

Southbound

Shipper's warehouse/ loading facility

The place where merchandise is loaded, either by appointment, FCFS (First Come, First Served), or, in some cases, through a reference number. The shipper's personnel is responsible for properly accommodating and securing the merchandise, as well as providing the operator with commercial documentation for transit. It is very important that the personnel loads exactly what is indicated in the letter of instructions/BOL (bill of landing) from the get go, because loading more weight, or additional merchandise that was not previously indicated could result in setbacks that affect carrier relationships and the overall flow of the operation.

Transportation line in the US (Carriers)

The carrier is in charge of placing the units for collection, based on the instructions and requirements previously established. For delivery, it must also account for additional requests by the warehouse and the agreed-upon schedules (in case of direct trailer).

Warehouse in Laredo, TX

A space that usually belongs to the customs broker, where the units arrive, and, depending on the service, the trailers are either left loaded, or unloading takes place (to the floor or palletized to another unit). Here, physical merchandise is checked against commercial invoice(s). Empty trailers are also received, so that once the merchandise arrives, the loading can take place smoothly. It is necessary to emphasize that an Exchange Sheet must be filled out the moment a trailer enters and leaves the facility, in order to keep track of the state of the units and the merchandise and avoid future issues.

Customs Broker

Located in Nuevo Laredo, Tamps. It is in charge of preparing the "pedimento" or customs declaration, DODA, PITA, and digitalizing the commercial documents. As well as validating and paying, and sending the documents via mail to the warehouse in Laredo, so that the personnel can print them and deliver them to the designated transfer.

Transfer

The carrier that performs the border crossing (it is necessary to have SCAC and CAAT). This can be the same that performs the freight in Mexico or another one specialized on this sole purpose; it must collect the trailer and documents in the warehouse, and then proceed to the designated customs office for clearance. Once cleared, it delivers the trailer to the transportation yards.

Transportation Yards

Located in Nuevo Laredo, Tamps. They make a valuation of the trailer, assign a unit and operator, and proceed to dispatch and start transit.

Transportation line in MX

Carrier in charge of delivering to the final customer. Will need to send a signed and/or stamped POD (Proof Of Delivery) at point of delivery.

Consignee

Place where the merchandise is delivered (by appointment or FCFS). Once the unloading is finished, usually a "zeroes" waybill, commercial invoice, or packing list is signed and/or stamped.

Northbound

Shipper's warehouse/ loading facility

Same as southbound.

Line carrier in MX

When offering a direct or through-trailer service, it usually employs American trailers, and when offering transloading, it employs Mexican ones. It is in charge of placing the units for collection, based on the instructions and requirements established. For the delivery, it must also consider what is requested by the warehouse and the agreed-upon schedules. When offering a direct trailer service, it is important to check if the operator is B1, because if so, it will be required to make the crossing.

Transportation Yards

Located in Nuevo Laredo, Tamps. When receiving the trailer, they are in charge of checking it and notifying if it is ready for crossing (at this point any damage to the trailer should be reported, in order to save time and avoid delays when transfer arrives).

Transfer

The carrier that performs the border crossing (it is necessary to have SCAC and CAAT). This can be the same that performs the freight in Mexico or another one specialized on this sole purpose; it must collect the trailers in the transportation yards, and the documents directly in the customs office or by mail. Then, it must proceed to customs for clearance. Once cleared, it will deliver the trailer to the warehouse required by the shipper.

Customs Broker

Same as southbound.

American Broker

It is located in the U.S. and prepares the Entry and Manifest documents. It has a direct relationship with the customs broker in Mexico, to whom this documentation is usually sent.

Warehouse in Laredo, TX

A space that usually belongs to the customs broker, where the units arrive for transloading, and unloading takes place (to the floor or palletized to another unit). Because the merchandise is being exported and has already crossed customs, it is usually not checked at this point.

Yard of the transporting line in the US

Direct trailer units usually arrive here, in order to check the equipment, and assign a unit and operator (or operators in case of Team Driver).

Consignee

Same as southbound.