Not every container that lands at PortMiami is ready to enter U.S. commerce. Some cargo hasn’t cleared customs yet, some is headed for re-export, and some is waiting on quota, FDA holds, or duty payment. Moving that freight legally requires bonded drayage — transport under customs control by a carrier authorized to handle in-bond cargo. Here’s how it works and when Miami importers should use it.
What “bonded” actually means
Cargo that hasn’t been formally entered into U.S. commerce remains under the jurisdiction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A customs bond is the financial guarantee that duties and penalties will be paid if the cargo goes missing or the rules aren’t followed. A bonded carrier holds a custodial bond with CBP, which allows it to move uncleared freight between ports, bonded warehouses, container freight stations, and foreign trade zones. Go Drayage is licensed by U.S. Customs under bond #LBR8, so in-bond containers can move on our trucks without waiting for clearance at the pier.
Common in-bond moves in South Florida
- Immediate Transportation (IT) — moves uncleared cargo from the port of arrival to another customs location, such as a bonded CFS in Miami where entry will be filed.
- Transportation and Exportation (T&E) — moves cargo through the U.S. for export from another port, a routine flow for Caribbean and Latin American transshipment through Miami.
- Immediate Exportation (IE) — takes cargo already at the port and exports it without a consumption entry.
Given Miami’s role as the gateway for Latin American trade, T&E and IE moves are everyday business here in a way they aren’t at most U.S. ports.
Why importers use bonded drayage
Free the container without waiting for clearance
Ocean free time doesn’t wait for customs. If an entry is delayed — missing documents, an FDA review, a duty question — a bonded move to a CFS or bonded facility gets the container off the terminal before demurrage starts, while keeping everything compliant.
Defer duties on re-exports
Cargo bound for the Caribbean or South America can transit Miami in bond and never owe U.S. duty at all. Paying duty on freight that leaves the country two weeks later is an expensive paperwork mistake.
Handle holds professionally
Exams and holds happen. A carrier that regularly works with CBP, centralized exam stations, and bonded facilities keeps those situations moving instead of letting containers sit.
What to look for in a bonded drayage carrier
- An active CBP custodial bond — ask for the bond number and verify it.
- Experience with in-bond documentation (the 7512) and electronic in-bond filing.
- Secure, monitored facilities: in-bond cargo must be protected against tampering, so a fenced, camera-monitored yard matters. Our 24/7 secure yard holds over 450 containers.
- A nearby container freight station for devanning and entry filing under one roof.
How a typical bonded move works
Your customs broker files the in-bond request; once CBP authorizes it, our dispatcher pulls the container from the terminal, moves it under seal to the bonded destination, and the receiving facility reports arrival to CBP, closing the in-bond. You can follow the truck the whole way on our shipment tracker. The paperwork is invisible to most shippers — what you see is a container that moved on schedule instead of sitting at the pier.
Frequently asked questions
Can any trucking company move in-bond containers?
No. Only carriers with an active CBP custodial bond may transport merchandise that hasn’t cleared customs. Using a non-bonded carrier for in-bond freight exposes the importer and the bond principal to penalties.
Does bonded drayage cost more than standard drayage?
Slightly, because of the compliance workload and liability, but the premium is small compared with the demurrage, duty timing, and penalty exposure it prevents on affected shipments.
Is bonded drayage only for imports?
No. Export moves under T&E and IE, foreign trade zone transfers, and even certain domestic repositioning of uncleared cargo all rely on bonded carriers.
Have an in-bond container arriving at PortMiami or Port Everglades? Request a quote and mention the in-bond type — we’ll handle the rest.