What brokers do
Documentation, classification, compliance
Customs brokers prepare declarations, determine tariff codes, calculate duties, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Freight Glossary
Customs Brokerage
Customs brokerage is the service of clearing goods through customs on behalf of importers and exporters. A licensed customs broker prepares and submits the documentation required for goods to enter or leave a country, including customs declarations, tariff classifications, duty calculations, and compliance with trade regulations. In the US, customs brokers must be licensed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to transact customs business.
Why it matters
Incorrect customs documentation causes shipment delays, financial penalties, and in serious cases, seizure of goods. Customs clearance is a specialized compliance function that requires knowledge of tariff codes (HTS), trade agreements, duty rates, and regulatory requirements that vary by product category and country of origin. For companies importing or exporting goods, customs brokerage errors directly impact supply chain timing and total landed cost.
When to use it
Use a customs broker whenever you are importing or exporting goods across international borders. The complexity of customs regulations makes self-filing impractical for most businesses. Even experienced importers use brokers because tariff schedules change, trade policy shifts, and the penalty for errors is significant. Choose a broker with experience in your specific commodity category and trade lanes.
How Warp thinks about it
While Warp focuses on domestic freight operations, many Warp shippers import goods that need customs clearance before entering Warp domestic distribution network. Warp can coordinate with customs brokers to ensure cleared goods flow directly into the cross-dock network for domestic distribution, eliminating the gap between customs clearance and first-mile domestic movement.
Customs
Customs brokerage clears goods through international borders with proper documentation and compliance.
Why it matters
Errors cause delays and penalties
Wrong tariff codes or missing documentation can hold shipments at the border for days and trigger financial penalties.
Warp connection
Cleared goods into domestic distribution
Once goods clear customs, Warp moves them through its domestic cross-dock and delivery network.