U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport (LALB), California – Trade Compliance and Agriculture Transfers for Warehouse Exam

To our Customers,​

Today we received this message from the CBP Los Angeles Field Office via Trade Information Notice.

Effective August 25, 2025, Customs Brokers and Importers responsible for Full-Container Load (FCL) shipments which have been selected for Merchandise Enforcement Team (MET) and/or Agriculture (AQI) exams will no longer have the option to select their own trucker to transfer the container from the terminal to the Centralized Examination Station (CES).

These CBP trade exams will be directed under a CBP controlled method of container movement via the CES trucker.  For the purposes of this TIN message, “CES trucker” refers to a motor carrier affiliated with or contracted by the CES Operator to perform controlled drayage movements, as required by CBP.

Customs Brokers and Importers can continue to designate their preferred CES at the time of entry.

The requirement for container movement via the CES trucker will also be put in place for the purposes of CBP mandated re-exportation of cargo for the movement of freight from the CES to the shipping terminal.

For Less-Than-Container Load (LCL) shipments selected for MET or AQI exams, Customs Brokers and Importers will still have the option to use their own trucker to deliver the cargo to a CES from a Container Freight Station (CFS).

BACKGROUND:
Public Bulletin LA14-013, dated June 19, 2014, was issued to formalize the transfer for exam permits in the Automated Commercial Environment.

There is a growing trend of inbound cargo subject to inspection being diverted for the purposes of evading CBP examination.  As a result of these ongoing diversion schemes, the Port Director deems it necessary that CBP mandate controlled drayage of the container from the port of arrival to the CES by the CES Operator.

Additionally, the Port Director will be closely reviewing in-bond movement authorization under 19 CFR 18.1(f). 
The basis for this authority stems from 19 CFR 151.15(d), which states:

(d) Designation of bonded movement and CES to be used. In the event the port director deems it necessary, he may direct the type of bonded movement to be used to transfer merchandise to a CES and may designate the CES at which examination must take place. In either case the port director’s action will be noted on the Customs Form 3461 or 3461 (ALT), or their electronic equivalents, or attachment thereto.

ACTION:
This TIN message affects cargo designated for the following types of exams:

• TCCES – Merchandise Enforcement Team (Full Container Load)
• AQCES – Agriculture Examination (Full Container Load)

Customs Brokers will continue to notify CBP through ACE Cargo Release – Elected Exam Site or Document Image System of their selection of an exam site.

The CES Operator will dispatch their own trucker to deliver the shipment from the terminal.

There will be no change to enforcement exams designated for A-TCET (ENFCES) or Trade Enforcement (TECES).

For CBP mandated re-exportations of full container shipments, transfer of cargo will be coordinated by the CES Operator in conjunction with CBP requirements.  Re-exportations of LCL cargo will be permitted to be moved via broker-controlled drayage unless otherwise directed by CBP.

Exceptions to requirements referenced within this document may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Port Director. Such exceptions may be considered for extraordinary circumstances, such as operational disruptions or other unforeseen events. Inquiries for the purpose of requesting exceptions will not be accepted; any exceptions will be initiated solely by the Port Director.

After reading this message if you have any questions or concerns regarding this TIN message may be addressed to the following:

Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport
Assistant Port Director, Trade Operations
301 E. Ocean Blvd., Suite 1400
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 366-5700

Source:Trade Information Notice (TIN)  https://www.cbp.gov/trade/centers-excellence-and-expertise-information/trade-information-notice-tin

Flegenheimer International