For logistics, trade compliance and procurement leaders who move ten or more shipments a month between Mexico and the United States. Switching customs brokers does not have to stop your operation: it is done in stages, starting with a pilot lane, and your company keeps its bond, its importer registrations and its compliance history. This is the typical 30-day plan we follow with high-volume shippers.
What does not change when you change brokers
- Your U.S. customs bond. The continuous bond is in the importer’s name, not the broker’s. It stays in force.
- Your Mexican importer registration. The padrón de importadores and the sector registries belong to your company.
- Your IMMEX program and Annex 24. The records are yours. The new broker must match its pedimentos to your inventory control.
- Your record with customs. Your importer number and compliance history remain your company’s.
- Your current relationship, if you choose. A company may authorize more than one customs broker in both countries. You can keep your current broker on some lanes while you test another with us.
The 30-day plan
Typical timeline. Actual dates depend on the size of your operation, your programs and how quickly the documents come together.
- Days 1 to 5: review of your operation. Volume by lane, products and tariff classifications, programs (IMMEX, PROSEC, USMCA), permits and NOM standards, and what costs you time today. You receive a proposal with scope, assigned team and reporting.
- Days 6 to 12: paperwork and onboarding. In the United States, the Customs Power of Attorney. In Mexico, the encargo conferido, which your company grants online with the SAT, and the letter of instruction. We prepare the forms and build your part-number catalog with tariff code and unit of measure.
- Days 13 to 20: pilot lane. The first shipments on a single lane or a single product type. The rest of your operation stays as it is. You measure clearance times, communication and document quality.
- Days 21 to 30: expansion and first report. Lanes are added based on the pilot results. A review meeting with your team and the first KPI report: shipments cleared, clearance times, duties and taxes paid, and exceptions.
What we need from your company
- Company tax and legal information, and that of its legal representative.
- Product list with descriptions, part numbers and the classification you use today.
- Lanes, monthly volumes and the crossings or ports you use.
- Current programs and permits: IMMEX, PROSEC, sector registries, NOM certificates, certifications of origin.
- One logistics contact and one finance contact for reporting.
Six criteria for evaluating a corporate customs broker
Use them with any provider, including us.
- Does it operate on both sides of the border? Eilan files the Mexican pedimento and the U.S. entry for the same shipment, with one team in Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Texas.
- Does it have its own warehouse? 200,000 sq ft in Laredo with our own team on site: bonded warehouse, in-bond moves, cross-dock, transload and hazmat.
- Is it certified? CTPAT and OEA certified.
- Who handles your account? A dedicated account executive who knows your products and your lanes.
- What visibility do you get? Status of your operations, a digital file, a document portal and a monthly KPI report.
- How much experience does it have? More than 30 years of experience, with clearance also at the Port of Manzanillo and the Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey airports.
Frequently asked questions
Will my operation stop during the switch?
No. The change is made in stages. Your current broker keeps clearing freight while the pilot lane runs with us, and lanes are added when you decide.
Do I have to end the relationship with my current broker?
No. In the United States an importer may give a power of attorney to more than one broker, and in Mexico a company may authorize more than one customs broker through the encargo conferido. Many companies work with two.
What happens to my past entries and files?
They are part of your company’s records. Keep copies of your entries, pedimentos, invoices and supporting documents for the last five years. If anything is missing, request it from your current broker before the change.
How long does onboarding take?
It depends on how quickly the documents come together. With complete documentation, onboarding and the first pilot-lane shipments usually fit within the first three weeks.
Request your transition plan
Tell us roughly how many shipments you move each month, what you ship and your lanes, and we will prepare a transition plan for your operation. Request a transition plan or call +1 (956) 717-4150, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central. See also the Corporate Program.