Top Puerto Rico Freight Forwarder

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Puerto Rico Freight Forwarding Made Easy

Your experienced Puerto Rico freight forwarder for hassle-free shipping. Businesses trust us to keep their Puerto Rico freight moving efficiently, reliably, and without unnecessary costs. We have all-in-one solutions to make it simple.

With extensive experience, teams, and knowledge in Puerto Rico. With our expertise, we can create customized logistics solutions tailored to your needs and timeline. From the moment your shipment is scheduled to final delivery, we prioritize proactive communication, dependable service, and customized solutions your business depends on.

OUR

Puerto Rico Freight Forwarding Services

Less-than-container load

Ocean freight: Less-than Container Load

Ocean Freight: Full Container Load (FCL)

Less-than-container load

Air freight

Pickup & Delivery

Warehousing & Distribution

International Freight

Trusted Puerto Rico Shipping for All Types of Cargo

Businesses rely on us because we deliver dependable service, experienced logistics planning, and consistent communication throughout every shipment.
We handle every type of cargo to Puerto Rico. We’ve worked with customers across industries to move auto parts, food products, consumer goods, retail inventory, furniture, business equipment, heavy machinery, and much more.
No shipment is unusual—or too complex—for us to handle.
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PUERTO RICO

Cargo Shipping Solutions

Door-to-door pickup and delivery services to and from Puerto Rico, the continental U.S., and globally

Northbound and southbound freight via air freight and FCL/LCL ocean freight

Access to all available ocean freight sail dates to maximize your options for moving freight to Puerto Rico—fast

Mainland warehousing options to save costs and streamline inventory management

Assistance with Hacienda clearance for fast and smooth customs processing

Real-time reporting with our online portal, offering full visibility into your Puerto Rico freight shipments

Help With Puerto Rico Hacienda

Shipments arriving to Puerto Rico must be paid for and cleared by the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury / el Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico (usually just referred to as “Hacienda”) before they can be delivered.
If you’re new to doing business in Puerto Rico, we’ll show you how to get started with customs and taxes on Puerto Rico Freight.
Our team regularly helps customers navigate the Hacienda process, ensuring documentation is handled correctly so your freight clears quickly and avoids costly delays.

 

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Trust the Puerto Rico Experts

Approved has been working with businesses to design efficient freight forwarding to Puerto Rico solutions since 1991.

Our long-standing experience in Jones Act markets (Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam) allows us to guide customers through the complexities of shipping to Jones Act locations while helping them avoid costly mistakes and delays.
We specialize in Puerto Rico freight forwarding and have the knowledge to tailor services that meet your needs, hit your deadlines, and optimize your logistics flow. Whether you’re shipping locally or internationally, we ensure that your freight to Puerto Rico is in good hands.

 

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Trusted by Companies Worldwide

Frequently Asked Questions About Puerto Rico Freight Forwarding

Freight makes its final journey to the island of Puerto Rico via one of two shipping modes: ocean freight or air freight.

When it comes to Puerto Rico ocean freight, we offer two solutions:

  • Less-than-Container (LCL) Shipments/Consolidations
  • Full Container Load (FCL) Shipments

We can pick up Puerto Rico-bound ocean freight anywhere in the continental We can also move international freight directly to and from Puerto Rico.

Air freight headed for Puerto Rico comes from all over the world. In most cases, air freight is your best bet for time-sensitive shipments. For more information on sending air cargo to or from Puerto Rico, check out Approved’s air freight services.

Port-to-port transit time for a container to San Juan, Puerto Rico can take as little as three days from Jacksonville, Florida. From Miami, it usually takes around four days.

 

We can pick up freight anywhere in the continental U.S. and move it to Puerto Rico for you. Below, you’ll find a few sample transit times to San Juan:

Approximate Transit Time to San Juan

  • Jacksonville, FL –  3 days
  • Miami, FL  – 4 days
  • New York, NY  – 7 days
  • Chicago, IL  – 10 days
  • Los Angeles, CA –  18 days

Keep in mind that transit time is simply the time it takes a boat to go from one port to another. Every steamship line has a cut-off for receiving freight, which is a few days prior to the actual sail date.

 

Additionally, it can take a few days for freight to be unloaded and delivered after freight is made available at the port.

 

To get a full picture of how long it will take your container to get to Puerto Rico, you’ll need to add a few days on either end of the transit time.

 

Reach out to us, and we’ll get you a precise timeline for your shipment.

We have access to multiple sailings weekly. This offers you maximum flexibility for moving cargo quickly between the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico. We’ll work with you to establish a schedule that meets your needs or call us at (866) 935-6201.

We use the following types of containers for shipments to Puerto Rico:

  • 20’ standard containers
  • 40’ standard and high cube containers
  • 45’ high cube containers
  • 53’ high-cube containers

 

We also ship flat-rack containers to accommodate large and heavy items, such as machinery and construction materials. Finally, if you have a non-containerized shipment, we can also assist. Just ask, and we’ll help you find a solution.

The final cost to ship a 20-foot container to Puerto Rico will depend on a couple of factors, including:

 

  • What you’re shipping: its weight, measurements, and freight class
  • The origin: where you want to ship it
  • The destination: where you want to ship it to

 

Once we have gathered all of that information, we’ll help you figure out the best shipping method for Puerto Rico and how much it will cost. We’ll put together a comprehensive quote so you can understand exactly what it will cost to ship your freight to Puerto Rico.

Goods arriving in Puerto Rico are subject to an excise tax that’s specific to the commodity you’re importing. This excise tax is payable through SURI, the online portal for Hacienda (the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury / el Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico).

 

Outside of the excise tax, you won’t pay customs duties on goods moving between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico.

If you’re sending freight, ocean freight will usually be the cheapest shipping option. If you’re sending a small parcel, USPS is often the cheapest option. UPS, FedEx, and DHL all ship to Puerto Rico, though, so you may want to price out your package with them as well to locate the absolute best rate.

Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, shipping between the island and the continental U.S. is not considered international. Additionally:

 

  • Shipments from Puerto Rico to other U.S. locations are not inspected by U.S. customs, nor subject to customs duties and fees.
  • Shipments from U.S. locations to Puerto Rico are not inspected by U.S. customs. However, they are subject to excise taxes paid directly to Hacienda (the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury / el Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico).

Because it’s a U.S. territory, the USPS considers mail to and from Puerto Rico domestic. Additionally, cargo moving between other U.S. locations and Puerto Rico is also considered domestic.

  • Domestic shipments to and from other U.S. destinations do not go through U.S. customs. However, cargo arriving in Puerto Rico is processed by Hacienda (the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury / el Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico), which collects an excise tax on incoming items.
  • International shipments arriving in Puerto Rico must first clear U.S. Customs. Then, they’ll be subject to excise tax and clearance by Hacienda.

If arriving from another U.S. destination, shipments to Puerto Rico are not considered exports.

For domestic shipments, you will need to provide documentation in order to get your shipment cleared by Hacienda. In general, this includes items such as a standard bill of lading, a commercial invoice, and an Electronic Export Filing (EEI) if the declared value of any commodity shipped exceeds $2,500.

 

Our Puerto Rico freight experts can help you prepare this documentation for your shipment.

Congress passed the Merchant Marine Act of 1920—which includes the section known as the Jones Act—in response to German attacks on the U.S. fleet during World War I.

 

The Jones Act restricts ocean transportation of cargo between U.S. ports to U.S.-built, -owned, and -operated vessels. The Act was designed to promote continued investment in American shipbuilding and shipping lines. It was also designed to ensure a robust U.S. fleet in case of future global conflict.

 

Finally, the Jones Act also protects the United States in case of international disputes. By maintaining its own fleet, the U.S. can remain independent of hostile nations, who might, for example, refuse to deliver goods to U.S. ports or attempt to cut off supplies.

 

Read more about the pros and cons of the Jones Act.

 

If you’re shipping goods to a Jones Act destination like Puerto Rico, there can be some complexities involved. Choosing a company who has significant familiarity with Jones Act destinations can help you navigate with greater ease.

 

Approved has been moving freight in Jones Act lanes since 1991. Feel free to reach out to one of our experts if you have questions about how the Jones Act might affect your next shipment.

If you’re considering doing business in Puerto Rico, the island has plenty to recommend it, including:

  • A solid infrastructure to support business
  • A highly skilled labor force
  • Legal and structural similarities to the continental U.S.
  • Active government and investment for new businesses
  • Tax benefits for bonafide relocation.

To learn more, check out our article on expanding your business to Puerto Rico.

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