Customs Clearance Services That Don't Hold Up Your Freight
A missed ISF deadline costs $5,000 per violation. A wrong HTS code means overpaid duties or a CBP exam that holds your container for weeks. Platton's customs clearance services prevent these problems by coordinating document prep, classification review, ISF submission, and entry filing through licensed broker partners — before your cargo arrives at the US port.
Why Importers Coordinate Clearance Through Platton
Documents Prepared Before Cargo Arrives
Platton's automated customs clearance workflow pre-validates commercial invoices, packing lists, and HTS classifications before your vessel reaches the US port. When the ship docks, entry documents are already staged — so CBP release happens in hours, not days.
ISF Filed on Time — Every Time
The submission must happen at least 24 hours before vessel loading at origin. Miss it, and CBP issues a $5,000 penalty per violation — plus potential container holds. Platton collects supplier data early and files through licensed brokers with time to spare, not at the deadline.
FDA, EPA, and CPSC Coordination Built In
Regulated goods (food, supplements, electronics, children's products) need agency clearance before CBP will release them. Platton coordinates with your US customs broker to file prior notices, product listings, and agency-specific documentation — so you're not waiting days for an FDA hold to clear while your container racks up demurrage.
Live Clearance Status — No Chasing Updates
See exactly where each shipment stands in the clearance pipeline: document prep, ISF submitted, entry filed, CBP review, released. No calling your broker for status. No wondering if the paperwork was even sent. Every status update is logged and visible in your Platton dashboard.
From ISF Filing to CBP Release — Every Step Coordinated
Pre-Departure Filing Coordination
We collect the 10+2 data points from your supplier and submit through licensed brokers well before the 24-hour loading deadline. If supplier data is incomplete, we flag it immediately — not after the penalty hits.
Ocean FCL, LCL, and Air Freight Clearance
Each freight type has different documentation timing. FCL entries are filed pre-arrival. LCL requires CFS coordination. Air freight needs same-day entry filing after arrival. Platton matches the filing workflow to the freight type so nothing sits waiting for paperwork.
Customs Bond & Entry Coordination
Need a single-entry bond for a one-time import or a continuous bond for regular shipments? Platton coordinates bond procurement and entry filing through your broker — ensuring the right bond type is in place before your cargo arrives. No last-minute scrambles at the port.
How Platton's Customs Clearance Services Work — Step by Step
Most clearance delays trace to three sources: documents that are wrong, documents that arrive late, and data that's incomplete. Platton's customs clearance process catches these problems before they reach CBP — not after your container is flagged for exam.
Pre-Submission Document Review
We verify HTS codes against product descriptions and invoices before entry filing. Wrong product code = wrong duty rate = potential intensive examination. Catching it before submission costs nothing. Catching it after costs time, penalties, and sometimes a full container exam.
Tariff and Regulation Change Monitoring
Tariff rates, AD/CVD orders, and agency requirements change constantly. Platton tracks changes that affect your product categories and alerts you before the next shipment — not after duties are assessed at the old (or wrong) rate.
Pre-Arrival Filing for Faster CBP Release
Entries filed before vessel arrival get reviewed by CBP while the ship is still in transit. By the time the container is discharged, it's already cleared — or at worst, flagged for exam early enough to plan around it.
One Dashboard for Every Shipment's Clearance Status
The customs clearance process moves through these stages in one dashboard: document prep, filing status, entry filed, CBP review, agency holds, released — every stage is tracked in one place. You don't need to email your broker for updates or wonder whether the ISF was actually submitted.
Your Shipment's Clearance Timeline
Step 1 Upload Shipping Documents
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and any certificates (origin, FDA prior notice, etc.) are uploaded to the Platton platform. Missing documents are flagged immediately — not discovered at filing time.
Step 2 Document & Code Validation
Product codes are verified against descriptions. Invoice values are checked for consistency. ISF data points are confirmed with the supplier. Everything is validated before it reaches the broker.
Step 3 Entry Filed Through Licensed US Customs Broker
Entry documents are transmitted to CBP through licensed broker partners. All filings comply with 19 CFR requirements. You receive confirmation the moment the filing is accepted.
Step 4 CBP Review & Cargo Release
Platton monitors CBP status in real time. If the entry clears — you see it immediately. If an exam is ordered, we coordinate container availability, exam scheduling, and post-exam release so the delay is minimized, not extended by miscommunication.
What Platton Handles Before, During, and After Your Shipment Clears
How We Help Clients
Round-the-Clock Filing Support
Shipments don't clear on a 9-to-5 schedule. Platton's team monitors CBP status around the clock — including weekends and holidays when vessels arrive. If an exam is ordered or a hold appears at 2 AM, we're already coordinating the response before your office opens.
Document Review Before Broker Submission
Every commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin is reviewed for accuracy before it reaches the broker. We check product descriptions against HTS codes, verify declared values, and confirm consignee details — catching the errors that trigger CBP rejections and exam holds.
Duty and Landed Cost Estimation
Know your total landed cost before the shipment sails. Platton calculates estimated duties, MPF, HMF, and any applicable AD/CVD rates based on current tariff schedules — so there are no surprises when the duty bill arrives after release.
Multi-Origin Trade Lane Coordination
Importing from China, Vietnam, India, and Taiwan on separate timelines? Platton coordinates documentation and filing schedules across all origin countries through one platform — so each shipment follows the right regulatory pathway without you managing separate workflows per trade lane.
Compliance Without Complication
90%
Pre-arrival filing rate: 90%+ of entries filed before vessel arrival — enabling same-day CBP release on most shipments.
35%
Filing error reduction: 35% fewer entry rejections through pre-submission validation.
98%
ISF compliance: Zero ISF penalties across all customs clearance services clients in the past 12 months.
100%
Agency coordination: FDA, EPA, and CPSC holds resolved in parallel with CBP review — not sequentially after it.
Know More About Customs Clearance Services
Document preparation (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading review), HTS classification verification, security filing for ocean shipments, customs entry filing, duty/tax calculation, agency coordination (FDA, EPA, CPSC), and monitoring CBP status through to cargo release. Platton coordinates all of these through licensed broker partners.
Late ISF = $5,000 penalty per violation from CBP. Inaccurate ISF can trigger a container hold or intensive exam. The filing must be submitted at least 24 hours before vessel loading at origin — not 24 hours before arrival. Platton collects the 10+2 data points from your supplier as soon as the booking is confirmed and files with time to spare.
No. Platton is a freight forwarder and logistics platform. By law, entry filing must be done by a licensed customs broker. We coordinate the entire clearance workflow — document prep, classification review, ISF coordination, status tracking — and transmit everything through licensed broker partners for compliant filing.
Yes. For FDA-regulated products (food, supplements, cosmetics, medical devices), Platton coordinates prior notice filing, product registration verification, and FDA hold resolution. If FDA issues a "may proceed" or a detention, we manage the response process with your broker to resolve it as fast as possible.
Traditional clearance relies on email chains between importer, broker, and freight forwarder — documents get lost, ISFs get filed late, and nobody knows the status until someone calls. Platton's automated customs clearance workflow is centralized: documents are uploaded to one platform, validated automatically, filed through licensed brokers, and tracked from submission to CBP release — with every status change visible in real time.
Yes — and that's where the platform's value compounds. For recurring importers, we store your product data, supplier details, and document templates. Each new shipment auto-populates from your history, reducing prep time from hours to minutes and virtually eliminating repeat filing errors.
If the shipment value exceeds $2,500, yes — you need either a single-entry bond (for that one import) or a continuous bond (covers all imports for a year). Most regular importers save money with a continuous bond. Platton coordinates bond procurement through your broker so it's in place before your cargo arrives — not a last-minute scramble at the port.
Every Day Your Shipment Waits for Clearance Costs You Money
Demurrage, storage, missed delivery windows — all caused by clearance delays that were preventable. Platton's customs clearance services eliminate the document errors and filing delays that hold up your freight. We also coordinate importer of record services and can advise on duty drawback opportunities for re-exported goods. Get a clearance timeline for your next shipment.