Imperial Freight Brokers is a leading provider of customs brokerage, international freight forwarding, and logistics services. For more than 55 years, we have proudly served our clients with accuracy, efficiency, and integrity. Our experienced team specializes in helping businesses navigate the complexities of U.S. import regulations.
Position Summary
Imperial Freight Brokers is seeking an experienced and dependable Customs Entry Writer to prepare, review, and transmit customs entries for imported merchandise. This is a hands‑on position requiring recent U.S. Customs brokerage experience and the ability to perform entry‑writing and import clearance functions with minimal training and supervision.
Key Responsibilities
- Review commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, arrival notices, certificates of origin, and other supporting documents for completeness and accuracy.
- Prepare, review, and transmit customs entries through the company’s Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system.
- Determine the appropriate entry type and ensure all required information is properly reported.
- Apply established HTS classifications and identify classification matters requiring review by a Licensed Customs Broker or management.
- Verify country of origin, customs value, duty rates, trade‑program eligibility, and applicable antidumping and countervailing duty requirements.
- Identify merchandise subject to Partner Government Agency requirements, including FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT, FCC, and other applicable agencies.
- Prepare and transmit applicable PGA data and documentation and monitor submissions through release.
- Review importer information, powers of attorney, customs bonds, and other account requirements before transmitting entries.
- Prepare and submit Importer Security Filings (ISF) within required timeframes, including the 24‑hour vessel‑loading requirement.
- Monitor entry status and promptly address CBP rejections, holds, examinations, requests for information, and other government notices.
- Follow up on CBP, PGA, terminal, carrier, warehouse, and other issues affecting customs release.
- Coordinate with terminals, carriers, CFS facilities, warehouses, freight forwarders, clients, and other parties to obtain information or documentation required for release.
- Understand and follow terminal and carrier release procedures and assist in resolving issues that may delay cargo release.
- Review entry summaries and supporting documentation to confirm accuracy and completeness before final submission.
- Calculate estimated duties, taxes, fees, and other applicable customs charges.
- Communicate with clients regarding missing documentation, classification questions, customs requirements, PGA requirements, clearance delays, holds, and shipment status.
- Identify discrepancies or compliance concerns and obtain the documentation or information necessary to resolve them.
- Escalate complex classification, valuation, admissibility, country‑of‑origin, trade remedy, or compliance matters to a Licensed Customs Broker or management.
- Maintain complete and accurate customs‑entry files, including entry documents, ISF filings, government correspondence, release information, and supporting records.
- Prepare file billing information and submit completed files to Accounting for invoicing.
- Remain informed of changes to CBP regulations, tariff classifications, trade programs, PGA requirements, and company procedures.
- Perform other customs brokerage and import operations duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Bachelor’s degree in logistics, supply chain management, international business, or a related field preferred but not required.
Experience
- Minimum of three years of recent, hands‑on U.S. Customs brokerage or customs entry‑writing experience required.
- Demonstrated experience independently preparing, reviewing, and transmitting customs entries through an ABI system.
- Experience handling entries from document review through customs release.
- Experience dealing with CBP rejections, holds, examinations, requests for information, and other entry clearance issues.
- Experience with Partner Government Agency requirements and submissions, including FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT, FCC, or other applicable agencies.
- Experience reviewing HTS classifications, customs values, countries of origin, duty calculations, and applicable trade remedies.
- Experience preparing and monitoring Importer Security Filings (ISF).
- Experience coordinating customs release with terminals, carriers, CFS facilities, warehouses, freight forwarders, and clients.
- Recent experience with Descartes/QuestaWeb is preferred.
- Job Type: Full‑time
- Experience Level: Experienced
- Availability: Immediate availability preferred
- Bilingual English/Spanish, written and spoken.