(626) 723-0722
Let Approved be your one-stop shop for Puerto Rico freight. We can assist you with:
- Air freight and ocean freight
- Domestic freight, both northbound and southbound
- International freight
- Full-container loads (FCL) and less-than-container loads (LCL)
- Specialty containers, including reefers, flat racks, flatbeds, drop decks and low boys
Via terminals in Los Angeles, Jacksonville, and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, we can move your freight door to door with one phone call—and with ease.
The Port of San Juan &
Our Puerto Rico Terminal
The Port of San Juan is one of the largest ports in the Caribbean and the 11th largest U.S. container port. The port is also a lifeline for the island of Puerto Rico, which imports ~85% of its food and all of its liquid fuel.
We coordinate freight at our terminal in Guaynabo, just a few miles away from the Port of San Juan. This proximity makes it easy to pick up and drop off ocean freight with ease. Domestic ocean freight is routed to and from San Juan through Jacksonville, FL and Eddystone, PA.
Transit Time from Jacksonville to San Juan – 3 days
Sail Dates from Jacksonville: Tuesday & Friday
Freight Availability:
- Tuesday sails arrive on Friday – Freight made available Tuesday morning
- Friday sails arrive on Monday – Freight made available Tuesday morning
Approved Freight Forwarders
c/o AGX
RD 165 KM 2.4
Free Trade Zone #61
Bldg 13 Locals 1 to 7
Guaynabo, PR 00965
(866) 935-6201
The Approved Freight
Puerto Rico Team
All of our Puerto Rico freight is coordinated by our expert team members in Los Angeles, Jacksonville, and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico to ensure a seamless experience from start to finish.
You have one point of contact who can answer any questions and provide updates. Plus, our on-the-ground resources in Puerto Rico will make sure your freight arrives on time—and in perfect condition. In the rare case of a problem, they can quickly intervene to find a solution.
Finally, if your needs change during your project, our team can easily pivot to coordinate additional solutions.
Common Questions About Shipping to Puerto Rico
How do I ship to Puerto Rico?
Cargo makes the final leg of its journey to Puerto Rico via two modes: ocean freight or air freight. Puerto Rico ocean freight moves in two ways:
- Less-Than-Container Load (LCL) Shipments / Consolidations
- Full Container Load (FCL) Shipments
If your shipment is time-sensitive, you might consider using air freight to move it to or from Puerto Rico. While air freight is more expensive than ocean freight, it’s also faster. Additionally, several different service levels of air freight are available, some of which are more budget-friendly than others.
Learn more about sending air freight to Puerto Rico.
Is Puerto Rico considered a U.S. port?
Yes, Puerto Rico is considered a U.S. port. In fact, Puerto Rico is considered part of the customs territory of the United States, unlike many of the other territories of the U.S., including Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Do I need a customs form to ship to Puerto Rico?
If you’re sending items domestically (i.e., from another U.S. location such as the mainland), you won’t need a customs form to send items to Puerto Rico. Where freight is concerned, though, you will need to provide documentation to get your shipment cleared by Hacienda. In general, that means:
- A standard bill of lading
- A commercial invoice
- An Electronic Export Filing (EEI) if the declared value of any commodity shipped exceeds $2,500.
For international freight shipments headed for Puerto Rico, you will need the same kind of documentation you’d need for sending any international shipment to the U.S. – Importers who plan to move a large amount of freight to the U.S. often choose to work with a customs broker who can help assemble the correct documentation and troubleshoot any import issues. If you have any questions, our experts can point you in the right direction.
Do shipments from Puerto Rico require customs clearance?
If you ship something from Puerto Rico to another U.S. destination, it will not require customs clearance. Shipments between the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are considered domestic.
Note: If you’re shipping freight TO Puerto Rico from the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia, your shipment will be subject to an excise tax, paid to el Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico, known as “Hacienda.”
If you’re shipping items from Puerto Rico to an international destination, they will need to clear customs in the destination country.
Does Puerto Rico has U.S. Customs?
Yes. International shipments arriving in Puerto Rico are subject to inspection by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and may be subject to duties, based on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
Do you have to pay import tax to Puerto Rico?
Shipments to Puerto Rico are subject to an excise tax, paid to el Departamento de Hacienda de Puerto Rico (Hacienda). For many commodities, the rate is 11.5%, but it varies depending on the goods you’re shipping. Reach out to our experts if you’d like some help figuring out the excise tax for your shipment.
How do I pay import tax to Puerto Rico?
To pay your import/excise taxes for goods you’re importing to Puerto Rico, you’ll need to get yourself set up within SURI (Sistema Unificado de Rentas Internas). (Note that you’ll be able to toggle between English and Spanish by clicking in the upper-right-hand corner.)
Once you’ve established an account within SURI, you can pay your tax invoices quickly and easily—and keep your goods moving.
Do I need an export license to ship to Puerto Rico?
Not if you’re shipping from the U.S. In that case, your shipment is not considered an export. Instead, it’s a domestic shipment, so you won’t need an export license.
However, you will need some documentation to accompany your shipments, including 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.
How long does it take to ship from Jackonville to Puerto Rico?
Transit time between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico is three days. More specifically:
- Tuesday sails arrive on Friday
- Friday sails arrive on Monday
After the vessel arrives, freight is made available for pickup by the following morning. Earlier pickup may be available, depending on how quickly the vessel is unloaded in San Juan.
What is the difference between logistics and freight forwarding?
In short, freight forwarding is a subset of logistics.
In the transportation industry,
logistics covers the entire process of moving raw materials, supplies, and finished goods from their points of origin to their final destinations.
Freight forwarders play a role in this overall process by coordinating the movement of those raw materials, supplies, and finished goods with the carriers who move those items.
What is the difference between carrier and freight forwarder?
The term carrier refers to the company
that actually moves freight.
A freight forwarder contracts with a carrier to move freight on behalf of its customer.
In the case of asset-based freight forwarders, they may also be considered the carrier if, at some point during the
journey, they move freight using their own equipment.
For example, we act as a freight forwarder for our Puerto Rico-bound freight. We work with our customers to receive their freight and book reservations with the ocean freight carriers—the steamship lines that own the cargo ships that physically move the freight If we also do the final delivery using one of our Approved trucks, Approved would be considered the carrier for that final leg of the journey
