Transfer or reloading of goods usually is done on the US border side and before crossing the border. To this end, a Mexican carrier has to enter the US with his truck. Usually this maneuver takes place in an authorized warehouse or cold storage, and it consists of shifting /mounting the refrigerated container carrying the goods from the US truck onto the Mexican truck. The objective is for the Mexican truck with the refrigerated container to cross the border, enter Mexico and transit in the Mexican territory without any inconvenience. This is because there is a special permit required for US truckers by the Mexican Government to drive on Mexican highways. This is done with most of the shipping companies since it is more practical for them.

 

It is common for the forwarder of the load and the Customs Broker to be the same company or the same company group. This facilitates communication, and thus, it speeds up the exportation process. 

Once in the warehouse or cold storage of the load the forwarder (on the US side of the border), a pre-inspection of documents is performed.
 

- The invoice. 

- The export certificates.

- Verification of the authorized plant.

 

 If documents are correct, a physical inspection is performed, making sure the product declared on the invoice and the certificate match with the physical load.
 

- Quantity of boxes or combos.

- Packaging.

- Tags.

- Platforms.

- Stamp numbers.

- Dates.

- That the product declared on the invoice and certificate corresponds to what is physically transported.

 

When all is correct, the Customs Broker allocates the tariff classification according to the product, and importation animal health requirements for importation are reviewed.

 

It is very important to have this pre-verification, since most discrepancies in documentation or label irregularities, packages or certificates can be detected and the correction from the plant can be requested, before going to the actual inspection process by authorities –thus, avoiding rejected shipments.

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 It is highly recommendable to send the documents to the customs broker before the goods arrive at the border. This helps to have a faster and more efficient review.

 

Once the pre-verification is conducted, the load is sent to the bonded warehouse.

 

Note: If any US shipping company is interested in getting a permit before the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation to enter with its trucks into Mexico and deliver the goods in the final destination, the following link should be reviewed:

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http://www.sct.gob.mx/transporte-y-medicina-preventiva/autotransporte-federal/temas-internacionales/autotransporte-transfronterizo-mexico- estados-unidos/