U.S. Customs Inspection Update: FCL Must Be Transported by Designated Trucks

Published: August 15, 2025

On August 14, 2025 (local time), the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a new Trade Information Notice (TIN) announcing an upgrade to certain container inspection procedures.

Effective Date: August 25, 2025

Key Changes

Starting from the effective date, any Full Container Load (FCL) shipments at Los Angeles/Long Beach ports that are selected for inspection must be transported to the Centralized Examination Station (CES) by a trucking company designated by that CES.

Specific Rules:

Customs brokers and importers will no longer be allowed to choose their own trucking company — CES-designated carriers must be used.

This applies to inspections such as:

MET (Manifest Enforcement Team inspection)

AQI (Agricultural Quarantine Inspection)

While importers/brokers may still select the CES location, the drayage process will be fully controlled by CBP.

If cargo is ordered for exportation (re-export) after inspection, the return from CES to the terminal must also be handled by a CES-designated trucking company.

Not Affected:

Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments are not impacted by this regulation for now.

Background

According to CBP, there has been an increase in incidents where shipments were moved illegally to avoid inspection. To close this loophole, port authorities have decided to impose tighter control over the transport process between the port and the CES.

Impact on Importers & Freight Forwarders

Higher Transportation Costs: CES-designated trucking may be more expensive, and rates are non-negotiable.

Reduced Flexibility: Brokers and forwarders lose the ability to choose their own carriers.

Possible Delays: Scheduling may depend on the designated trucking company's availability.

Recommendations

Plan extra time for inspections to avoid delays in delivery.

Maintain close communication with your broker and freight forwarder to track inspection status.

For high-risk cargo types (e.g., agricultural products, food, sensitive goods), prepare for potential inspections in advance.

Conclusion
This change means FCL inspections at Los Angeles/Long Beach ports will now be subject to stricter and more centralized transportation control. Importers and freight forwarders should prepare operational adjustments to avoid costly delays and disruptions.

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