CBS 2013 - Customs Broker Selection

This webinar will highlight the strategies for selecting and effectively managing the customs broker. It will help importers understand the role and importance of good brokers in complying with customs requirements.

Why Should You Attend:

A company’s customs broker or freight forwarder is a critical link in the supply chain. A good broker will pay big dividends; they will get your shipments released expeditiously and alert you to errors. A bad broker can cause a variety of problems for the importer and their mistakes can result in an enforcement action by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP).

A company importing into the U.S. cannot abdicate or otherwise outsource their obligations to undertake “reasonable care” in their importing practices and activities. Therefore having a capable and competent broker is absolutely vital. Broker mistakes or errors may result in significant penalties from CBP and may also result in increased examinations. Accordingly, managing your broker has never been more important. In this session you’ll learn how to identify and select a customs broker or freight forwarder and how to manage them once you have established a relationship.

This session will explore and discuss the common traits of a “good broker”, the signs of a “bad broker” and effective strategies for conducting a request for proposal (RFP). Additionally this session will offer tips for managing your customs broker or freight forwarder once the selection process is complete.

Learning Objectives:

• Why is having a good customs broker or freight forwarder important?


• How do we efficiently select the best broker or forwarder and how often should we bid our business?


• How do we manage our broker or forwarder?

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• Conducting a Request for Proposal (RFP)


• Selection criteria for customs broker and freight forwarders


• Identifying “good brokers” from bad ones


• Effectively managing your customs broker or freight forwarder