Quick Answer: A freight forwarder in Florida books ocean, air and land carriers, files customs paperwork and moves your cargo door to door. Choose one with an FMC OTI or NVOCC license, real lane experience and itemized quotes. With AB Group Shipping, a 20 ft container Miami to Cartagena starts at $756 (September 2026 quote), 4 days port to port.
- Verify the FMC license or registration first — US-based ocean intermediaries must hold an FMC OTI license, while foreign-based NVOCCs may instead register with the FMC (46 CFR Part 515).
- Florida has seven deep-water seaports and five cargo airports; the right gateway depends on your lane, not your zip code.
- Demand an itemized quote: ocean freight, origin THC, BAF/CAF, ISF filing, customs entry, drayage, destination charges.
- Our customers in Florida most often ship to Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Chile — see the live price table and the calculator on this page.
Ocean rates move every month, so the price table under the opening answer updates itself while this article stays fixed. The figures quoted here carry their month, and the calculator prices your exact pickup city, not just the port.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: container shipping from Florida, leaving through Miami
| Destination | 20 ft container | 40 ft HC container | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArgentinaBuenos Aires | $972 | $1,080 | 14 days |
| EcuadorGuayaquil | $1,080 | $1,296 | 17 days |
| ColombiaCartagena | $756 | $972 | 4 days |
| ChileSan Antonio | $1,080 | $1,296 | 24 days |
| PanamaRodman | $1,080 | $1,296 | 21 days |
| PeruCallao | $1,080 | $1,296 | 19 days |
| Dominican RepublicCaucedo | $1,431 | $1,728 | 12 days |
| BrazilSantos | $1,566 | $1,922 | 14 days |
Port-to-port rates in USD from Port Everglades, calculated with our quoting system (current since September 28, 2026). 20 ft container: general cargo. 40 ft HC container: general cargo. They include freight and US export charges; they do not include import taxes or local charges at destination. We pick up anywhere in Florida; that leg to the port is not included here, and the calculator on this page adds it from your city (and may choose another port when that is cheaper).
What does a freight forwarder in Florida do?
Quick Answer: A freight forwarder is a licensed intermediary that arranges international transport on your behalf. In Florida, that means booking vessel or aircraft space, issuing a house Bill of Lading, filing ISF and AES, coordinating drayage from your warehouse, and handing cargo to a customs broker at destination.
A freight forwarder Florida exporters hire does not own the ship or the plane. It buys capacity from carriers like Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd, then resells it with documentation and coordination attached.
The legal frame matters. On the ocean side, the Federal Maritime Commission licenses Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTI). That license splits into two types.
- Ocean Freight Forwarder: books space as your agent and earns commission from the carrier.
- NVOCC: acts as a carrier itself, buys slots in bulk and issues its own house Bill of Lading.
- Indirect Air Carrier (IAC): TSA approval required for freight forwarders that act as indirect air carriers (49 CFR parts 1548/1549).
Many Florida operators hold all three. That combination lets one company quote ocean, air and the customs entry without handing you to a third party.
What your forwarder actually controls
The forwarder owns the parts of the move that depend on paperwork and relationships. That is where a good one earns its fee.
- Booking and space protection during peak season
- LCL consolidation and cross-dock at the origin warehouse
- Transport documents: B/L, Air Waybill, Sea Waybill
- ISF 10+2 and AES/EEI filings
- Drayage from your Florida facility to the terminal
Our guide to Miami warehouse cargo reception explains exactly how cargo gets received, measured and consolidated before it loads.
What no forwarder controls
Set expectations honestly before you book. Three things sit outside any forwarder's hands.
Vessel schedules slip. Carriers omit port calls, blank sailings and roll containers when a ship runs full. A forwarder can rebook you fast, but cannot hold a vessel.
CBP exam holds are random or intelligence-driven. Nobody releases a container faster than the inspection queue allows. Destination duties belong to the importing country's customs authority, and no forwarder negotiates them.
Pro Tip
Ask whether the forwarder issues its own house B/L or resells someone else's. A house B/L from its own NVOCC license means it controls the release at destination. Reselling means an extra party stands between you and your cargo when something goes wrong.
Freight forwarder vs customs broker vs NVOCC vs 3PL: who do you need?
Quick Answer: You usually need both a freight forwarder and a customs broker. The forwarder moves the cargo and issues the transport document. The customs broker files the CBP entry. An NVOCC issues its own Bill of Lading as a carrier. A 3PL adds warehousing and fulfillment on top.
The four roles overlap constantly in marketing copy. They do not overlap in licensing. Here is the clean version.
| Role | Licensed by | Core service | Issues the B/L? | You need it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freight forwarder | FMC (OTI) | Books carriers, documents, drayage | Yes, as agent | Any international shipment |
| Customs broker | CBP | Files entries, pays duties | No | Importing into the US |
| NVOCC | FMC (OTI) | Buys slots, consolidates LCL | Yes, own house B/L | LCL and shared containers |
| 3PL | Depends on services offered | Warehousing, pick and pack | No | Inventory and fulfillment |
| IAC | TSA | Tenders air cargo | Yes, house AWB | Air freight |
Forwarder with both licenses
One company books the vessel, issues the house B/L and files the CBP entry. One invoice, one contact, one party accountable when a container is flagged. Claims do not bounce between vendors.
Separate forwarder and broker
You pick a specialist broker for complex HTS classification or Section 301 exposure. Useful for regulated goods. The trade-off is coordination risk — each side blames the other for a late ISF.
How to verify an FMC OTI license
The FMC publishes every active OTI license in a free public database. Search the company name or the license number the forwarder gives you.
Check three fields: the legal entity name, the license status, and the bond on file. A lapsed bond means the license is effectively dead. The industry guide to freight forwarding covers the same verification logic for other trade lanes.
Red flags on a Florida quote
No legal entity name on the quote. No FMC license number anywhere on the website. A WhatsApp-only "agent" collecting ocean freight for US export cargo. Any of these three and you walk. Unlicensed collection of ocean freight is an FMC violation, and your cargo is the collateral.
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Go to the calculator →Which Florida port is best for shipping to the Caribbean and Latin America?
Quick Answer: PortMiami is the usual export gateway for Florida cargo heading to Latin America and the Caribbean, with the widest sailing frequency. Port Everglades, JAXPORT, Port Tampa Bay, Port Canaveral, Port Manatee and Port of Palm Beach each serve specific lanes and cargo types better.
Florida's deep-water seaports are not interchangeable. Each one carries a different carrier rotation, a different cargo mix and a different free-time policy.
| Port | Strongest lanes | Cargo strength | FTZ on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| PortMiami (USMIA/USMIR) | Caribbean, Colombia, Central & South America | Container, reefer | Yes |
| Port Everglades | Caribbean, Bahamas, Central America | Container, LCL, petroleum | Yes |
| JAXPORT | Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Asia | Vehicles (RoRo), container | Yes |
| Port Tampa Bay | Mexico, Central America | Bulk, breakbulk, project cargo | Yes |
| Port Canaveral | Caribbean, Gulf | Breakbulk, RoRo, cruise | Yes |
| Port Manatee | Mexico, Central America | Refrigerated, bulk, RoRo | Yes |
| Port of Palm Beach | Bahamas, Caribbean islands | Container, breakbulk | Yes |
For most Florida exporters, the usual export port is Miami. It carries the deepest weekly frequency to Cartagena, Caucedo, Kingston and the South American east coast.
How we get your cargo to the port
AB Group Shipping picks up anywhere in Florida. A car carrier handles vehicles. A truck handles household goods and palletized freight.
That pickup leg is real money. A run from Pensacola to PortMiami costs more than a run from Doral. The calculator prices your exact origin city, and it may choose a different port when the total lands cheaper.
Why distance is not the deciding factor
Shippers assume the nearest port wins. It often does not. Port choice follows carrier rotation, sailing day and free time.
A container leaving Miami on a Tuesday direct service can beat one leaving a closer port that transships through Kingston. Two extra free days at the terminal can also outweigh 150 miles of trucking.
Shipping from outside Florida?
Texas and the central states usually move through Port Houston. California and the Southwest ship via Los Angeles/Long Beach. The Northeast uses New York/New Jersey, the Southeast uses Savannah, and the Midwest goes by rail through Chicago. Ontario ships through Toronto, Quebec through Montreal, Western Canada through Vancouver.
Which Florida airports handle international air cargo?
Quick Answer: Miami International (MIA) is the dominant air cargo gateway for Latin America, with dedicated perishables and pharma handling. Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Jacksonville (JAX) serve regional and overflow volumes. A forwarder that tenders your cargo as an indirect air carrier must hold TSA IAC approval; as a shipper, you do not need it.
MIA runs the largest international freight operation in the United States. Flowers from Bogotá, seafood from Guayaquil, pharma cold chain, high-value electronics — they all pass through its dedicated handling facilities.
Air freight bills on chargeable weight — the greater of actual kilos or a volumetric weight calculated with the carrier's divisor. A light, bulky carton bills on its volume, not its actual kilos. This single rule decides whether air or ocean is cheaper for your cargo.
Why IAC status matters
TSA requires freight forwarders acting as indirect air carriers to hold Indirect Air Carrier approval (49 CFR parts 1548/1549). Shippers do not need it: the Certified Cargo Screening Program is voluntary, and you can tender cargo to an IAC or airline that screens it. Without IAC approval, a forwarder cannot tender your cargo to the airline as an indirect air carrier.
That shows up as delay. Cargo routed through a third-party screener misses the flight cut-off and sits a day. Ask for the IAC number alongside the FMC number.
Master AWB vs house AWB
The airline issues the master Air Waybill. Your forwarder issues the house AWB to you. The house document is what you present for release at destination.
For urgent cargo, read our guide to emergency air freight to Latin America. For lane-specific rates, the air freight calculator for Ecuador and the air freight calculator for El Salvador both price in seconds.
When air beats ocean
- Replacement parts stopping a production line
- Perishables with a shelf life under 14 days
- Samples for a trade show or buyer approval
- Shipments under about 500 kg where documentation delay outweighs the ocean savings
FCL vs LCL vs air freight vs RoRo: which service fits your cargo?
Quick Answer: Full container load wins above roughly 10 CBM. Less than container load wins below it, priced per cubic meter. Air freight suits urgent or perishable cargo under about 500 kg. RoRo fits wheeled and self-propelled units that cannot go in a container.
Service comparison for Florida export cargo
| Service | Priced by | Minimum volume | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCL | Per container | About 10 CBM up | Full loads, sealed cargo, speed |
| LCL | Per CBM or ton | 1 CBM | Small shipments, frequent restocking |
| Air freight | Chargeable weight | No minimum | Urgent, perishable, high value |
| RoRo | Per unit | One unit | Wheeled and self-propelled cargo |
Source: AB Group Shipping operations guidance · September 2026
Why the 10 CBM line is sharp
LCL looks cheap per cubic meter until you add handling. Each shipment pays consolidation, deconsolidation and CFS handling on both ends.
At 4 CBM, LCL is clearly cheaper. At 9 CBM, the per-CBM rate plus handling often meets a 20 ft container price. Above that line, FCL wins on cost and on control.
FCL reality
Your container is sealed at your dock. Nobody opens it until destination customs. Transit is the published port-to-port figure, and you control the loading plan.
LCL reality
Your pallets share a box. Expect 3 to 7 extra days for deconsolidation at destination. Bonded CFS warehouses clear faster than non-bonded ones, but either way the slowest co-loader sets your release date.
RoRo, flat rack and oversized units
RVs, motorhomes, semi-trucks, heavy machinery and aircraft do not fit inside a container. They move on a flat rack or a RoRo vessel.
These never get an automatic price. A specialist quotes them after the calculator takes the request, and the figure is always written as approx. until the vessel and the measurements are confirmed.
Vehicles are never priced as general cargo
A general-cargo container rate does not cover a car. It excludes vehicle handling, lashing and the vehicle markup. A car shipping alone uses the vehicle line. Cars sharing a 40 ft container use the shared-container approximation per car, always written approx.
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Go to the calculator →How long does ocean freight take from Miami to South America?
Quick Answer: Ocean transit from Miami runs 4 days to Cartagena, 12 days to Caucedo, 14 days to Buenos Aires and Santos, 17 days to Guayaquil, 19 days to Callao, 21 days to Rodman and 24 days to San Antonio, port to port. Add inland pickup and destination clearance.
Miami port-to-port transit times
See the data
| Destination | Port code | Transit (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Cartagena, Colombia | COCTA | 4 |
| Caucedo, Dominican Republic | DOCAU | 12 |
| Buenos Aires, Argentina | ARBUE | 14 |
| Santos, Brazil | BRSSZ | 14 |
| Guayaquil, Ecuador | ECGYE | 17 |
| Callao, Peru | PECLL | 19 |
| Rodman, Panama | PARDM | 21 |
| San Antonio, Chile | CLSAI | 24 |
Source: AB Group Shipping quoting system · September 2026
Our customers in Florida most often ship to Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Chile. That is our own booking mix, not a statistic about the state.
ETD is not your deadline
The vessel's ETD is the day it sails. Your real deadline is earlier, and it comes in two parts.
- Cargo cut-off: the container must be gated in at the terminal
- Documentation cut-off: set by each carrier ahead of ETD for B/L instructions and VGM
Miss the documentation cut-off and the carrier rolls you. The next sailing may be seven days out on a weekly service.
Port-to-port is not door-to-door
Add 1 to 3 days for pickup and gate-in in Florida. Add 3 to 10 days at destination for customs clearance, deconsolidation and final delivery. A 4-day Cartagena transit becomes a 10 to 14 day door-to-door move once both ends are counted.
Europe and Asia from Florida
Most Florida services to Europe and Asia route through a transshipment hub. Transit swings widely with carrier rotation and hub dwell time.
That is why we give those lanes as ranges and send you to the calculator. A direct Latin American service is predictable; a two-leg Asia routing is not.
How much does a freight forwarder cost in Florida?
Quick Answer: Cost depends on service type, container size, destination port and current surcharges. With AB Group Shipping, a 20 ft container Miami to Cartagena starts at $756 and a 40 ft HC to Buenos Aires at $1,080 (September 2026 quotes). The live price table on this page always shows the current figures.
Ocean rates reprice monthly. Treat any number in an article as a reference point, and read the self-updating price table under the opening answer for the current figure.
MiamiUSMIR
CartagenaCOCTA
MiamiUSMIR
Buenos AiresARBUE
MiamiUSMIR
GuayaquilECGYE
MiamiUSMIR
San AntonioCLSAI
What an itemized quote contains
Read every line. A quote with one number and no breakdown hides the surcharges that appear later.
- Ocean freight — the base port-to-port rate
- Origin THC — terminal handling at the loading port
- BAF / CAF — bunker and currency adjustment factors
- ISPS — port security charge
- Peak season surcharge — carrier-imposed, seasonal
- ISF filing — on US imports, filed before loading
- Customs entry fee — broker's filing charge
- Drayage — truck from your Florida facility to the terminal
- DTHC — destination terminal handling, billed at the other end
What "all-in" usually leaves out
An all-in quote normally stops at the destination port. It rarely covers what happens after the vessel discharges.
Missing items are predictable: demurrage, detention, chassis split and per-diem once free time expires. Destination duties and VAT are never included — those belong to the importing country.
Duties are not forwarder charges
Import duty is set by the destination country and published as a percentage of CIF value. Example math: a $20,000 CIF shipment into a country with a 15% duty rate and 19% VAT pays $3,000 duty, then 19% on $23,000 = $4,370 VAT. Total $7,370. Confirm the applicable rates with a licensed customs broker in that country — AB Group Shipping is a freight forwarder, not tax counsel.
Your Florida pickup is not inside the port-to-port price. The calculator adds it from your city, and it may route you through a cheaper port once that leg is priced.
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Go to the calculator →What documents and customs filings does Florida export cargo need?
Quick Answer: Every ocean export needs a commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading and, above $2,500 per HS line, an AES/EEI filing. Imports into the US need ISF 10+2 filed before vessel loading, an HTS classification, and a single-entry or continuous customs bond.
Paperwork errors cause more delay than vessel delays do. Build the file before the cargo moves, not after.
- Commercial Invoice — Factura Comercial in Spanish-speaking destinations
- Packing list — pieces, weights, dimensions, marks
- Bill of Lading or Air Waybill — the transport contract
- Certificate of Origin — Certificado de Origen, needed for trade-agreement rates
- Cargo manifest — Manifiesto de Carga
- Consignee tax ID — the consignee's tax identification number in the destination country; confirm the required format with the consignee or a local customs broker
ISF 10+2 and its timing
The Importer Security Filing must be transmitted to CBP before the cargo loads at the foreign port; confirm the exact deadline with your customs broker. It applies to US imports, not exports.
Late or inaccurate filings trigger AMS holds and liquidated damages. CBP can assess penalties per violation, and a held container accrues demurrage every day it sits.
If a shipment does get flagged, our walkthrough on cargo held in US customs and how to release it covers the exact release sequence.
Single-entry vs continuous bond
A single-entry bond covers one shipment. A continuous bond covers all your entries over its term; its amount depends on your import volume and duties, so confirm it with your customs broker.
The rule of thumb: a continuous bond usually wins once annual duties pass about $50,000, or after roughly 5 to 10 entries a year. Below that, single-entry bonds cost less.
HTS classification drives everything
The HTS code sets your duty rate, your Section 301 exposure and any partner-government agency requirement. A wrong code is not a clerical error — it is a misdeclaration.
Confirm the classification with a licensed customs broker. AB Group Shipping arranges transport; classification rulings and duty disputes belong with a licensed broker or a trade attorney.
How do you vet a Florida freight forwarder before you book?
Quick Answer: Check the FMC OTI license number, confirm cargo liability and insurance limits, ask for two references on your exact lane, demand an itemized quote, and read the free-time terms. A forwarder that cannot name your destination port's deconsolidation agent is guessing.
Use this checklist before you sign anything with any of the freight forwarding companies in Florida you are comparing.
- Verify the FMC OTI license number on the public database.
- Confirm TSA IAC status if you ship any air freight.
- Ask whether the company is C-TPAT certified.
- Check their denied-party screening process.
- Request cargo liability limits in writing.
- Compare that limit against your actual cargo value.
- Get two references on your exact lane, not a generic one.
- Demand an itemized quote with every surcharge named.
- Read the free-time terms at origin and destination.
- Name the destination agent handling deconsolidation.
- Clarify who pays when a sailing is rolled.
- Confirm the legal entity name matches the invoice.
Incoterms 2020: who pays for what
Your Incoterm decides where your cost and risk end. Pick it before you quote, not after, and confirm each party's obligations against the ICC Incoterms 2020 text and your contract.
| Incoterm | Export clearance | Main carriage | Insurance | Import duties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| FCA | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| FOB | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| CIF | Seller | Seller | Confirm in contract | Buyer |
| DAP | Seller | Seller | Confirm in contract | Buyer |
| DDP | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller |
Why DDP is riskier than it looks
DDP wins deals because the buyer sees one number. It also makes the Florida seller responsible for import duties, VAT and clearance in a country where it has no legal presence.
If DIAN or SUNAT reclassifies the goods, the seller absorbs it. DAP stops your obligation at delivery and leaves import clearance with the buyer. For most Florida exporters, DAP is the safer commitment.
Hurricane season and rolled sailings
From June through November, Florida sailings get disrupted. Terminals close, vessels divert, cut-offs move without notice.
Ask two questions in writing. Who pays storage when a sailing is rolled? Does your cargo policy cover general average — the shared-loss rule that can bill you even when your container is undamaged?
Shipping a vehicle from Florida
CBP requires a paper title. Florida keeps most titles electronically, and FLHSMV can convert one to paper — check the lien requirements, current fees and processing times with FLHSMV (flhsmv.gov, Paper Liens and Titles). Do not cancel your Florida insurance before surrendering the plates at a tax collector or service center: a lapse can suspend your license and registration for up to 3 years, with a reinstatement fee of up to $500 (flhsmv.gov/insurance). For anything beyond these two rules, confirm directly with the Florida DMV.
Foreign-Trade Zones and duty deferral
A Foreign-Trade Zone is a secured site treated as outside US customs territory for duty purposes. Every major Florida port has one, and Miami FTZ is widely used for Latin American re-export.
Goods sit in the FTZ without duty. You pay only when they enter US commerce — and pay nothing at all if they are re-exported. For a distributor buying in Asia and selling into Colombia and Peru, that deferral is real cash flow.
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Go to the calculator →Book your next export with real numbers
Quick Answer: Pick a Florida freight forwarder with a verified FMC OTI license, lane-specific references and an itemized quote. AB Group Shipping picks up anywhere in Florida, ships through Miami or a cheaper port, and prices your exact origin city instantly on this page.
With thousands of shipments processed across the USA–Latin America corridor, we price international freight forwarder Florida lanes the same way every time: port-to-port rate, pickup leg, surcharges, all visible before you commit.
Use the calculator on this page to compare FCL, LCL, air and vehicle rates for your exact route. Enter your Florida city and your destination port — no email required, no follow-up calls. For breakbulk, project cargo or oversized RoRo, the same form sends your request to a specialist for a custom quote.
Usually yes, you need both. The freight forwarder books the vessel or flight, issues the Bill of Lading and moves your cargo; the customs broker is separately licensed by CBP to file the entry and pay duties. Many Florida operators hold both licenses, which gives you one point of accountability instead of two.
PortMiami is the usual gateway for Caribbean and Latin American cargo, with the highest sailing frequency to Cartagena, Caucedo and Kingston. Port Everglades and Port Palm Beach also run strong Caribbean services, and JAXPORT handles Puerto Rico volume. Your forwarder should pick the port by carrier rotation and free time, not by distance from your warehouse.
An FMC OTI license is the Federal Maritime Commission authorization that lets a company act as an Ocean Freight Forwarder or NVOCC from a US port. US-based intermediaries must hold it (46 CFR 515.3); a foreign-based NVOCC may instead register with the FMC, with a bond and tariff, and issue its own house Bills of Lading. Verify the number on the FMC public database before you book.
Cost depends on service type, container size, destination port, cargo weight and the surcharges in effect that month, such as BAF, CAF and peak season. Ocean rates move monthly, so use the live price table and the calculator on this page for your exact origin city and destination. Import duties are separate and set by the destination country.
Most Florida to Europe ocean services run on transshipment, so transit varies widely by carrier rotation and hub. Direct Latin American lanes are far shorter — Miami to Cartagena runs about 4 days port to port, Buenos Aires about 14 days. Enter your exact port pairing in the calculator on this page for the current schedule.
Sources
We checked the rules and figures in this guide against these sources on October 15, 2026.
- eCFR / Federal Maritime Commission: eCFR :: 46 CFR Part 515 -- Licensing, Registration, Financial Responsibility Requirements and General Duties for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Florida Insurance Requirements
- Federal Maritime Commission: Ocean Transportation Intermediaries
- Federal Register (TSA): Opening of Opportunity for Shippers To Register as Certified Cargo Screening Facilities · 2023-08-08
- eCFR / U.S. Customs and Border Protection: eCFR :: 19 CFR Part 111 -- Customs Brokers
- eCFR / Federal Maritime Commission: eCFR :: 46 CFR 515.26 -- Termination of financial responsibility.
- eCFR (National Archives / U.S. Census Bureau rule): 15 CFR 30.37 -- Miscellaneous exemptions
- International Trade Administration (trade.gov): Free Trade Agreements Help Center
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Exporting a Motor Vehicle
- International Trade Administration (trade.gov): About FTZs
✓ Fact-checked by AB Group Shipping on October 15, 2026. Prices come from our own rate system. How we check our guides · Spotted an error? [email protected]