Import Cargo Handling
Support for inbound perishable cargo from pre-arrival through cargo release.
The hours immediately before and after a perishable shipment lands are when the cool chain is most exposed — cargo can sit on a ramp or in a warehouse waiting on paperwork, customs status, or transport. Our import coordination is built around closing that gap: getting documentation and consignee information in place before arrival so release and pickup can happen as soon as the cargo is available.
What's Included
- Pre-arrival review of the air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, and any required government or health documentation
- Coordination with the airline and ground handling agent on cargo availability and release timing
- Monitoring of customs and inspection status (including holds for USDA, FDA, or CBP review where applicable) in coordination with the consignee's customs broker
- Communication of arrival status, release timing, and any handling exceptions to the consignee
- Coordination of onward transfer to cold storage, trucking, or consignee pickup once cargo is released
Import perishable cargo is frequently subject to review by U.S. government agencies before release — this can include CBP entry processing, USDA APHIS phytosanitary review for plant products, or FDA prior notice review for food shipments. We do not act as a customs broker, but we coordinate closely with the consignee's licensed broker so these steps move as quickly as the regulatory process allows.
Cargo availability at LAX can change quickly once a flight lands, particularly during high-volume perishable seasons. Our operations team monitors status directly with the handling agent rather than relying solely on system updates, so consignees get a heads-up as soon as cargo is physically available for pickup.
Where a shipment requires cold storage before onward transport, we coordinate timing with the storage provider so the transfer window is as short as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is my inbound perishable cargo actually available for pickup — not just landed?
Flight arrival is not the same as cargo availability. Product still has to be offloaded, checked in by the handler, and released for recovery. We monitor status directly with the airline and ground handler and confirm when cargo is physically ready — before a truck is sent to sit on the clock.
What happens if my shipment is on a USDA/APHIS, FDA, or CBP hold?
We identify which agency is holding it and coordinate next steps with your licensed customs broker and the handler — we do not clear customs ourselves. While the hold runs, we push to keep cargo in temperature-controlled storage rather than on an ambient dock, then move immediately once release is granted so shelf life isn’t burned waiting for a truck.
Related Commodities
This service is commonly coordinated for the following commodity types.
Have a Shipment That Needs Coordinating?
Share your shipment details and our LAX operations team will follow up with next steps.