By Los Angeles Customs Broker · Import & Customs Guides
Few things spike an importer's blood pressure like the word "hold." Your container is at the port, the demurrage clock is ticking, and now CBP wants to inspect it. Here is what is actually happening and how to move it along.
Why Cargo Gets Held
CBP or a partner agency can flag a container for several reasons: a random or targeted security check, a documentation question, an FDA or USDA review, or a classification or valuation concern. It does not always mean something is wrong; sometimes it is simply the number that came up.
The Types of Exams
- VACIS / X-ray: a non-intrusive scan. The fastest type.
- Tailgate exam: the container doors are opened and the load is spot-checked.
- Intensive exam: the container is moved to a Centralized Examination Station and fully unloaded. The slowest and most expensive.
The Costs
Exam-related costs, moving the container, unloading and reloading, and the added dwell time, generally fall to the importer. That is why speed matters so much.
How to Get Released Faster
The single best thing you can do is have a broker who responds immediately, provides CBP or the agency exactly what they need, and coordinates the exam logistics with the terminal. If your cargo is already held, that is precisely what our exam and hold help is for, and you can switch brokers mid-shipment if your current one has gone quiet.