Bonded Drayage at the Port of Long Beach
Bonded-carrier coordination · CBP 7512 handoff support · Multi-terminal POLB coverage · 24/7 dispatch
The Port of Long Beach moves more containerized imports than any single US port — and a meaningful share of that cargo arrives in-bond, meaning it hasn’t been customs-cleared at POLB and needs to move under bond to a bonded warehouse, a Foreign-Trade Zone, an inland customs port, or a cross-border destination before the entry is filed.
In-bond drayage at Long Beach isn’t standard drayage. It needs a carrier with a valid CBP customs bond, drivers who can file or carry CBP Form 7512, and a dispatch team that can sequence the move with your customs broker so the bond paperwork, the chassis pool, and the terminal appointment all line up before the box gets pulled.
Get a Long Beach in-bond drayage quote in 30 minutes →
Or call: (516) 252-3395 — 24/7 dispatch for urgent or held cargo.
What is bonded (in-bond) drayage at Long Beach?
In-bond drayage means moving a container that is still inside the customs system — i.e., entry has not been filed at the port of arrival. The cargo can’t be released to the general consignee until either (a) entry is filed and duties are paid at POLB, or (b) the cargo moves under bond to another customs location and is cleared there.
Three regulatory mechanisms cover most in-bond Long Beach moves:
- IT (Immediate Transportation, CF 7512 IT) — Box moves from POLB to an inland US port of entry (Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Chicago) where customs entry is filed. Most common in-bond move out of Long Beach for inland importers.
- T&E (Transportation and Exportation, CF 7512 T&E) — Box moves from POLB to a US export port for re-export without ever entering US commerce. Common for cargo destined for Mexico or Canada via a US transit move.
- IE (Immediate Exportation, CF 7512 IE) — Box moves from POLB directly to a vessel for export, without unloading. Used for transshipment cargo.
Each move requires a qualified bonded motor carrier whose applicable bond and authority are confirmed before dispatch, a properly filed 7512 manifest, and intact CBP customs seals from POLB to the destination port or bonded location.
Why Long Beach specifically
Long Beach (POLB) and the adjacent Port of Los Angeles (POLA) make up the largest US container complex by volume. The two ports together handle roughly 40% of all containerized US imports. For in-bond cargo, three things make POLB different from other US bonded gateways:
- Volume + chassis competition. POLB chassis is run through Pool of Pools (POP). During peak season (July–October), bonded boxes compete for the same chassis as cleared cargo, and dwell-time on chassis can stretch to 5+ days if not actively managed.
- Multi-terminal complexity. POLB has six container terminals (Long Beach Container Terminal, Pier T / TTI, Pier J / Pacific Container Terminal, ITS, SSA Marine, Pier G). Each has its own appointment system. Bonded pulls require the carrier to know which terminal the cargo’s at, which appointment app to use, and what gate-time windows the bond paperwork actually allows.
- Inland intermodal interface. Many POLB in-bond moves are designed to flow into inland-rail intermodal at one of the BNSF or UP railhead facilities (ICTF, BNSF Hobart, etc.). The drayage carrier needs to be set up to drop bonded boxes into the railhead under proper IT documentation — not all West Coast drayage carriers are.
If you ship in-bond cargo through POLB, the question isn’t “can a drayage carrier pull this box.” The question is: does this carrier hold the bond, file the 7512, and run dispatch tight enough to keep the bonded clock from blowing the demurrage budget?
How BBL handles in-bond drayage at POLB
BlackBridge Logistics LLC is an FMCSA-authorized property broker (MC-1624915). We arrange port drayage through independent motor carriers. In-bond moves are subject to confirmation of a qualified bonded carrier and required CBP authorization before dispatch. Operationally, here’s how the handoff works on a typical POLB in-bond move:
- Pre-pull coordination with your customs broker. Before the box arrives, a BBL logistics coordinator syncs with your customs broker on which 7512 type (IT/T&E/IE) is filing, what the destination port or warehouse is, and what the bond-stamping requirement is. No 7512 filed = no pull.
- Terminal + chassis sequencing. We arrange for the selected motor carrier to pull the appointment and secure a chassis (single or tri-axle as required), and check that chassis daily exposure is bounded by the bond’s transit-time window.
- CBP seal verification at pull. The selected motor carrier’s driver verifies the CBP customs seal is intact and matches the 7512 manifest. Any seal mismatch is a stop-the-pull issue, not a sort-it-later issue.
- In-transit documentation. Driver carries the 7512 paperwork and a copy of the bond. If the move is to a railhead or inland port, the in-bond record stays with the cargo until the destination customs broker files clearance.
- Destination handoff. At the destination bonded warehouse, FTZ, or inland customs port, BBL coordinates with the destination broker to confirm the cargo arrived under-bond, intact, and that the 7512 is closed properly.
Common Long Beach in-bond lanes BBL arranges
- POLB → Inland Empire bonded warehouse (Mira Loma, Ontario, Fontana, Riverside) — short-radius in-bond, typically 50–80 miles, single-day move
- POLB → Phoenix / Salt Lake City / Dallas inland CBP — long-haul in-bond drayage to inland customs ports, 600–1,400 miles
- POLB → Otay Mesa / Calexico cross-border — bonded transit to US-Mexico border crossings for export to Mexico under T&E
- POLB → Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) operator — moves into an FTZ where the box stays until the importer pulls it for entry
- POLB → BNSF Hobart / UP ICTF railhead under bond — drayage-to-railhead with bonded drop, then BNSF or UP runs the long-haul
Long Beach in-bond drayage rate context
In-bond drayage at POLB runs at a premium over standard drayage because of the additional documentation, broker coordination, and chassis-discipline overhead. Typical 2026 ranges:
| Move type | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| POLB → Inland Empire bonded warehouse (50–80 mi) | $850–$1,300 | Fuel + chassis daily extra |
| POLB → Phoenix inland CBP (~370 mi) | $2,100–$2,800 | Long-haul bonded drayage |
| POLB → Otay Mesa cross-border (~140 mi) | $1,400–$1,900 | T&E with cross-border handoff |
| POLB → BNSF Hobart railhead under bond (~25 mi) | $650–$950 | Short-radius bonded drop |
Rates are illustrative 2026 ranges. Verify your specific lane with a BBL quote. For a full per-port rate breakdown, see average drayage rates per mile and per container at every major US port.
What sets BBL apart for POLB in-bond work
- FMCSA-authorized property broker — we arrange in-bond drayage through independent motor carriers and confirm required carrier authority before dispatch.
- In-bond coordination desk coordinates each in-bond move with the customs broker handoff scripted, not improvised.
- Multi-terminal POLB coverage including LBCT, Pier T (TTI), Pier J (PCT), ITS, SSA, Pier G.
- Cross-port routing if POLB chassis or appointments stall — we can pivot to/through POLA without the in-bond paperwork lapsing.
- 24/7 dispatch for held boxes, customs holds, and seal-issue resolution.
Frequently asked questions about in-bond drayage at Long Beach
What is in-bond drayage at the Port of Long Beach?
In-bond drayage at POLB is the movement of a container that has not yet cleared US customs — under a CBP Form 7512 manifest — from a Long Beach terminal to a bonded warehouse, an inland customs port, an FTZ, or a US export point. It requires a CBP-bonded carrier and intact customs seals throughout the move.
How does BBL arrange in-bond moves?
BlackBridge Logistics LLC is an FMCSA-authorized property broker (MC-1624915). We arrange port drayage through independent motor carriers. In-bond moves are subject to confirmation of a qualified bonded carrier and required CBP authorization before dispatch.
Who files the CBP Form 7512 — BBL or my customs broker?
Your customs broker (or the importer’s broker of record) files the 7512 in ACE. BlackBridge coordinates with your broker on filing timing. The performing motor carrier’s bond and authority are confirmed before dispatch so the appointment, chassis, and paperwork align before the pull.
Last free day, pre-pull, and customs-hold planning at Long Beach
For in-bond Long Beach containers, the operational plan starts with the last free day. If customs release, CBP 7512 filing, warehouse appointment, or chassis availability is not aligned, a pre-pull can keep the box out of terminal demurrage while the bonded delivery is finalized.
BlackBridge coordinates the customs broker, terminal appointment, bonded carrier dispatch, and bonded warehouse delivery as one move. That keeps the seal intact, protects the in-bond paperwork, and gives the importer a clean handoff from POLB or POLA to the bonded facility.
Get a Long Beach in-bond drayage quote in 30 minutes
Tell us which POLB terminal the box is at (or master B/L if you don’t know yet), container size + cargo type, 7512 type (IT, T&E, or IE) and the destination customs port or bonded location, and your customs broker contact so a BBL logistics coordinator can sync directly.
Or call a BBL logistics coordinator now
(516) 252-3395 — 24/7 dispatch for urgent or held cargo at POLB.
