Quick Answer: Miami warehouse cargo reception (recepción en bodega Miami) lets importers ship US supplier purchases to a consolidation warehouse, where cargo is received, weighed, photographed and held 10-15 days free before export. Ocean LCL to Latin America runs $65-$120 per CBM with 5-18 day transit depending on destination port.
- A Miami consolidation warehouse receives cargo from your US suppliers, verifies it against your packing list, photographs it, and holds it free for 10-15 days before consolidating it into an ocean or air shipment.
- Every package must carry your full name plus your assigned client code or suite number — unlabeled cargo gets refused at the dock or charged an identification fee.
- You need a commercial invoice, packing list, Tax ID (EIN or foreign NIT/RUC), and a signed power of attorney; shipments over $2,500 per Schedule B line also need an AES/EEI filing and ITN.
- LCL beats FCL below roughly 10-12 CBM; above that a 20' container almost always wins on cost per cubic meter.
Miami is the consolidation hub for the entire Latin American trade corridor. Understanding how the warehouse handles your cargo — and what it charges for — is the difference between a clean $900 shipment and a $1,400 one.
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Use the calculator above →What is recepción en bodega in Miami and how does it work?
Quick Answer: Recepción en bodega Miami — warehouse cargo reception — is a service where a licensed freight forwarder receives merchandise you bought from US suppliers, checks it against your packing list, stores it short-term, then consolidates it into an ocean or air shipment to your country.
This is a commercial receiving and consolidation warehouse, not a residential mail locker. The dock handles pallets, crates, LTL trucks and container loads. Staff weigh, measure and photograph everything before it enters your inventory.
Who uses a Miami consolidation warehouse?
- LatAm importers buying from US wholesalers who refuse to ship internationally
- E-commerce resellers sourcing from Amazon, Walmart and Alibaba US fulfillment centers
- Retail buyers consolidating multiple suppliers into one ocean shipment
- Companies purchasing machinery, auto parts and industrial equipment
The warehouse becomes your US address of record. Your supplier ships domestically, which most US vendors will do without question. Your forwarder handles everything after that.
Bonded CFS vs. non-bonded consolidation warehouse
Most Miami consolidators operate non-bonded. That is fine for merchandise purchased and duty-paid inside the US. It matters only if your goods entered the US under a Temporary Import Bond or arrived in-bond from a third country.
Bonded Container Freight Stations (CFS) hold cargo under CBP custody before entry. If your cargo is still in-bond, it must move to a bonded facility — a non-bonded warehouse legally cannot touch it.
Pro Tip
Verify your warehouse's FMC license number before you send a single box. AB Group operates as a licensed NVOCC with an FMC license and holds IAC certification for air cargo. An unlicensed "warehouse" cannot legally issue a House Bill of Lading, which means your cargo cannot clear at destination in your name. Check the FMC public database — it takes two minutes.
How do I address a package so a Miami warehouse receives it correctly?
Quick Answer: Address every package with your full legal name, your assigned client code or suite number, the warehouse street address, Miami FL and the ZIP code. The client code is mandatory. Packages arriving without it get held as unidentified cargo and may incur an identification or re-labeling fee.
Use this exact format on every carton and every supplier purchase order:
- Line 1: [Your Full Legal Name]
- Line 2: [Client Code — e.g. ABG-1042]
- Line 3: [Warehouse Street Address + Suite]
- Line 4: Doral or Medley, FL [ZIP], USA
- Line 5: Tel: [Warehouse phone number]
Never use your home country address as the identifier. Never use your supplier's internal PO number either. The dock crew sorts incoming freight by client code only.
Before the cargo ships from your supplier
- Send the supplier's tracking number, carrier name and expected arrival date to your account manager.
- Confirm a delivery appointment for pallet freight — LTL carriers arriving without one get turned away at the dock.
- Label each carton individually when a shipment has multiple boxes: 1 of 6, 2 of 6, 3 of 6.
- Request a copy of the supplier's packing list so the warehouse can verify piece count on arrival.
Unidentified cargo is the #1 delay
A Miami dock receives hundreds of cartons daily. A box marked only with your supplier's invoice number sits in the unknown-cargo cage until someone claims it. Expect a $15-$40 identification fee plus lost free-storage days. Worse, some warehouses refuse delivery outright and the carrier returns the freight to your supplier at your cost.
Mi paquete llegó a Miami, ¿qué sigue? The step-by-step reception process
Quick Answer: Once your package arrives, the warehouse logs it within 24 business hours, weighs and measures it, photographs the cartons, matches it to your client code, and notifies you. Cargo then waits in free storage until you release it for consolidation, booking and export.
Here is the exact sequence, with realistic timelines from the Miami-LatAm corridor:
- Dock receipt. The carrier delivers. The warehouse signs the delivery receipt and notes any visible damage, crushed cartons or shortage on the spot.
- Intake within 24 business hours. Staff count pieces, record gross weight, measure dimensions in inches, convert to CBM, and upload a photo set to your portal.
- Discrepancy report. Missing cartons or damage get documented the same day with photographs — this is your evidence for a supplier or carrier claim.
- Free storage clock starts. Counting begins on the intake date, not the delivery date. A Friday 6 PM delivery is usually logged Monday.
- Release instruction. You send the green light plus your commercial invoice and packing list. Consolidation, booking, documentation and export filing begin.
- Departure. Cargo leaves via PortMiami, Port Everglades or Miami International Airport (MIA), then clears customs at destination.
Cargo delivered before 3 PM on a business day is typically logged, weighed, measured and photographed within 24 business hours. Weekend and holiday arrivals move to the next business day, which pushes your free-storage start date and your consolidation window.
What documents do I need to ship merchandise from a Miami warehouse?
Quick Answer: You need a commercial invoice, a packing list, a Tax ID (US EIN or your foreign NIT, RUC or RFC), and a signed power of attorney authorizing the forwarder to act as your agent. Shipments over $2,500 per Schedule B line also require an AES filing and ITN.
Commercial invoice vs. packing list — never combine them
The commercial invoice carries values, currency, terms of sale and the Incoterm. The packing list carries piece count, net and gross weights, dimensions and carton marks. Destination customs authorities — DIAN, SUNAT, SAT, ANAM — routinely reject combined documents.
The core document set
- Commercial invoice (Factura Comercial) with Incoterm and unit values
- Packing list with carton-level detail and marks
- Tax ID: US EIN, or foreign NIT (Colombia), RUC (Peru/Ecuador), RFC (Mexico)
- Power of Attorney (POA) authorizing the NVOCC or customs broker to file on your behalf
- Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) covering export details for that specific booking
- W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E when a foreign buyer certifies non-US status to a US supplier
- Certificado de Origen when claiming free trade agreement preference
HS codes and Schedule B classification
Every line item needs classification. The six-digit HS code drives destination duty. The ten-digit Schedule B code drives the US export filing. Per CBP guidance on basic importing and exporting, misclassification is the most common cause of export holds and destination penalties.
Household goods and personal effects follow a different document set — see our guide on international moving costs from Miami to Panama and required documents for CBP Form 3299 and the valued inventory format.
The $2,500 AES threshold catches everyone
When any single Schedule B line exceeds USD $2,500, the forwarder must file an Electronic Export Information (EEI) record in the Automated Export System and obtain an ITN before loading. No ITN means the container does not sail. Budget 24-48 hours for filing. Foreign shippers also need an EIN or a valid foreign entity identifier before AES will accept the record.
How many free storage days does a Miami warehouse give?
Quick Answer: Most Miami consolidation warehouses give 10-15 calendar days of free storage from the intake date. After that, expect $3-$8 per CBM per day or $6-$12 per pallet per day. Handling, palletizing and re-packing are billed separately from storage.
Free time splits by mode. Ocean cargo typically gets 15 days. Air cargo gets 5-7 days, because air-side warehouse space costs far more per square foot.
| Charge | Typical rate | Billing unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intake / receiving (pallet) | USD $8–$25 | Per pallet | Includes weigh, measure, photo |
| Intake (loose carton) | USD $2–$5 | Per carton | Minimum charge often applies |
| Palletizing | USD $25–$45 | Per pallet built | Shrink-wrap and corner board included |
| Storage after free time (ocean) | USD $3–$8 | Per CBM per day | Minimum 1 CBM billed |
| Storage after free time (pallet) | USD $6–$12 | Per position per day | Partial days billed as full |
| Re-packing / repalletizing | USD $35–$75 | Per pallet | Quoted case by case |
Pro Tip: time your supplier ship dates
Do not let supplier #1 ship in week one when supplier #4 ships in week five. The first cartons burn their entire free-storage window sitting on a rack. Confirm all ship dates first, then release purchase orders so arrivals cluster inside a 7-10 day window. This single habit saves importers hundreds of dollars per consolidation.
Important distinction: warehouse storage is not port demurrage or container detention. Demurrage starts when the container sits at the destination terminal past free time. Detention runs on the container after it leaves the port. Those are separate charges from the carrier, not the warehouse.
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Use the calculator above →Warehouse consolidation vs. personal locker vs. direct courier
Quick Answer: A consolidation warehouse wins on volume cargo above 0.5 CBM, a personal locker suits small personal purchases under 50 lbs, and direct courier is fastest for urgent parcels. Cost per kilo drops sharply as volume rises, which is why commercial importers consolidate.
| Service | Typical cost | Transit | Volume limit | Documentation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidation warehouse (LCL) | $65–$120 / CBM | 5–18 days | No upper limit | Full commercial export set | Commercial import volume |
| Consolidation warehouse (air) | $2.80–$6.50 / kg | 2–5 days | No practical limit | AWB + invoice + AES if applicable | Time-critical commercial cargo |
| Personal locker (casillero) | $6–$12 / lb | 3–7 days | ~70 lbs per package | Simplified courier declaration | Personal purchases |
| Direct courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS) | $9–$25 / kg | 2–5 days | Per-piece weight caps | Courier waybill, often DDP | Samples and documents |
Consolidation warehouse
Three suppliers' cartons become one palletized, shrink-wrapped, labeled unit moving under a single Bill of Lading. You get cargo insurance at 110% of CIF value, full export documentation, and a per-CBM rate that drops as volume rises. The trade-off is time: consolidation adds 2-4 days before the vessel sails.
Personal locker or direct courier
Fast and simple for small personal buys. You pay heavily per pound and hit weight caps near 70 lbs. Duties often arrive prepaid under DDP, which looks convenient but hides the markup. Above roughly 0.5 CBM the math flips hard in favor of consolidation.
Air from MIA vs. ocean LCL vs. FCL from PortMiami: which fits your cargo?
Quick Answer: Ocean LCL costs $65-$120 per CBM and suits 1-10 CBM shipments. Above roughly 10-12 CBM, a 20' FCL at $1,600-$2,900 beats LCL on cost per cubic meter. Air freight from MIA runs $2.80-$6.50 per chargeable kilo for time-critical cargo.
The ~10 CBM crossover explained
LCL bills per cubic meter, then adds destination handling: DTHC, deconsolidation and CFS fees. Those destination charges are roughly fixed per shipment. FCL is one flat ocean rate for the whole box. Around 10-12 CBM the two lines cross and the container wins.
How chargeable weight and CBM are calculated
- Air volumetric weight: L × W × H in cm ÷ 6000. You pay the greater of actual or volumetric weight.
- Ocean CBM: L × W × H in meters, per carton, summed across the shipment.
- LCL revenue ton: billed on the greater of CBM or metric ton, where 1 CBM equals 1,000 kg.
| Mode | Unit cost | Transit (Miami→LatAm) | Minimum | Typical surcharges | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air freight (MIA) | $2.80–$6.50 / kg | 1–4 days | 45–100 kg | Fuel, security, AWB fee | Urgent, high-value, low-weight |
| Ocean LCL | $65–$120 / CBM | 5–18 days | 1 CBM | BAF, ISPS, DTHC, CFS | 1–10 CBM commercial cargo |
| Ocean FCL 20' | $1,600–$2,900 flat | 4–16 days | ~10 CBM to justify | BAF, CAF, ISPS, peak season | 10–28 CBM, 28,200 kg max |
| Ocean FCL 40'HC | $2,300–$3,900 flat | 4–16 days | ~25 CBM to justify | BAF, CAF, ISPS, peak season | Up to 67 CBM volume cargo |
Below 10 CBM, LCL almost always wins. Above 12 CBM, a 20' container beats LCL on cost per cubic meter once destination CFS and deconsolidation fees enter the math. Between 10 and 12, run both numbers — freight market conditions in 2026 shift the crossover by a cubic meter or two.
Running the exact numbers for Central America? Compare our LCL shipping Miami to Panama cost calculator and transit times against the FCL Miami to Panama 2026 pricing and cost calculator to see the crossover on a live lane.
Vehicles and heavy machinery do not follow CBM math at all. They price by unit, method (RoRo vs. container) and port access — see our car shipping calculator for Miami to Colombia rates and costs or the guide to shipping cars from Miami to Ecuador.
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Use the calculator above →Which Incoterm should you use for delivery to the Miami warehouse?
Quick Answer: Buy EXW only if you can arrange US inland pickup. FCA Miami puts the supplier in charge of delivery to the warehouse and of export clearance. FOB Miami suits ocean bookings you control. DDP shifts all import-side liability to the seller, which most US suppliers refuse.
| Incoterm 2020 | Supplier loading | Inland to Miami warehouse | AES/EEI filing | Ocean/air freight | Destination duties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer's agent | Buyer | Buyer |
| FCA Miami | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer |
| FOB Miami (ocean only) | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer |
| DAP (destination) | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer |
| DDP (destination) | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller |
EXW is the default quote from most US wholesalers. The price excludes loading and trucking. Budget $85-$400 for LTL pickup within Florida, more for out-of-state origins.
FCA is the correct term when your supplier delivers to the Miami warehouse and takes on export clearance. It is cleaner than EXW for first-time importers.
"FOB Miami warehouse" is a contract error
FOB is an ocean and inland waterway term only under Incoterms 2020. Risk transfers when goods cross the ship's rail — not at a warehouse dock. Writing "FOB Miami warehouse" on a purchase order creates ambiguity about who carries risk during drayage to PortMiami. Use FCA instead. And treat DDP with caution: it makes the US seller the importer of record in Colombia or Peru, exposing them to IVA and duty liability. Most refuse, or price a heavy premium.
What can a Miami warehouse not receive or export?
Quick Answer: Miami consolidation warehouses cannot receive firearms, ammunition, explosives, loose lithium batteries, aerosols, flammable liquids, most perfumes, live animals or perishable food without cold chain. Restricted items — pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronics with encryption — need extra permits or an ECCN review before booking.
Fully prohibited
- Firearms, ammunition, gun parts and explosives or fireworks
- Illegal narcotics and controlled substances
- Counterfeit goods and trademark-infringing merchandise
- Live animals, cash and bearer instruments
Hazardous goods requiring a certified DG packer
- Loose lithium-ion batteries shipped alone (UN3480) — batteries installed in equipment are treated differently
- Aerosols, paints, solvents and pool chemicals
- Compressed gas cylinders and flammable liquids
- Perfumes and alcohol-based cosmetics — ocean DG only, never passenger air
Destination restrictions and export controls
Several LatAm markets restrict used clothing. Drones face registration requirements in Colombia and Argentina. Medical devices need INVIMA (Colombia), DIGEMID (Peru) or COFEPRIS (Mexico) registration before the consignee can clear them. Regional customs authorities publish their own parcel and consolidation rules — Honduran customs, for example, details its encomiendas process for consolidated parcels publicly.
On the US side, encryption hardware, drones, night vision and dual-use machinery need an ECCN review before booking. Every shipment also runs Denied Party screening against the BIS Entity List and the OFAC SDN list.
The perfume surprise
Importers regularly buy perfume lots in Miami, ship them to the warehouse, then learn the cargo cannot fly. Alcohol-based fragrance is UN1266 dangerous goods. It moves by ocean under DG documentation with a certified packer, adding $150-$400 per shipment. Ask before you buy, not after the cartons hit the dock.
How much does Miami warehouse reception and export cost?
Quick Answer: Budget $8-$25 per pallet for intake, $25-$45 for palletizing, and $65-$120 per CBM for ocean LCL to Latin America. Add export documentation at $45-$95 and AES filing at $25-$50. The calculator on this page prices your exact volume and destination in seconds.
Line items you should see on any honest quote
- Warehouse intake and handling — $8-$25 per pallet
- Palletizing and shrink-wrap — $25-$45 per pallet
- Storage overage after free time — $3-$8 per CBM per day
- Export documentation — $45-$95 per shipment
- AES/EEI filing and ITN — $25-$50
- Ocean LCL freight — $65-$120 per CBM
- Origin THC, BAF, CAF and ISPS — itemized, not bundled
- Cargo insurance — 0.45%-0.85% of CIF value
Be skeptical of "all-in" quotes. They often exclude destination DTHC, deconsolidation and CFS fees that the consignee pays on arrival.
Transit times from Miami to Latin America
| Destination | Port | Ocean transit | Sailing frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | Manzanillo (PAMIT) | 3–5 days | Weekly / 2x weekly |
| Dominican Republic | Caucedo / Santo Domingo | 4–6 days | Weekly |
| Colombia | Cartagena (COCTG) | 5–7 days | Weekly |
| Guatemala | Puerto Barrios | 5–7 days | Weekly |
| Venezuela | La Guaira | 6–9 days | Bi-weekly |
| Ecuador | Guayaquil (ECGYE) | 7–9 days | Weekly |
| Peru | Callao (PECLL) | 10–13 days | Weekly |
| Chile | Valparaíso (CLVAP) | 14–18 days | Weekly |
Miami(USMIA)
Cartagena(COCTG)
Miami(USMIA)
Manzanillo(PAMIT)
Miami(USMIA)
Callao(PECLL)
Without cargo insurance, ocean carrier liability is capped at $500 per package under COGSA. A pallet of electronics worth $12,000 recovers $500. Insurance at 0.45%-0.85% of CIF value, minimum premium about $50, is the cheapest line on your entire quote.
Destination duties, IVA/VAT and customs clearance are paid by the consignee unless you agreed DDP. Rates vary by HS code and trade agreement — confirm with a licensed customs broker in your country before you commit to a landed-cost figure.
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Use the calculator above →With thousands of shipments processed annually across the Miami-LatAm corridor, the pattern is consistent: importers who label correctly, cluster their supplier ship dates and send documents before release pay the lowest all-in cost. Use the calculator above to price your exact CBM, weight and destination port. Compare LCL, FCL and air side by side in seconds — no email required, no follow-up calls.
Your package is logged, weighed, measured and photographed within 24 business hours of arrival, then matched to your client code and added to your inventory. Free storage starts on that intake date, typically 10-15 days. Nothing ships until you send a release instruction with your commercial invoice and packing list.
Write your full legal name on the first line, your assigned client code or suite number on the second, then the warehouse street address, Miami FL and ZIP code. The client code is the only identifier the dock crew sorts by. Packages without it are logged as unidentified and may incur a re-labeling fee.
Most Miami consolidation warehouses give 10-15 calendar days of free storage for ocean cargo and 5-7 days for air cargo, counted from the intake date. After free time expires, expect $3-$8 per CBM per day or $6-$12 per pallet per day. Consolidate your supplier ship dates to avoid burning free time.
You need a commercial invoice, a packing list, a valid Tax ID such as a US EIN or your NIT, RUC or RFC, and a signed power of attorney for the forwarder. Shipments valued over $2,500 per Schedule B line also require an AES/EEI filing, which generates your ITN number before the cargo can legally leave the US.
Ocean transit from PortMiami runs about 5-7 days to Cartagena, 3-5 days to Manzanillo Panama, and 14-18 days to Valparaíso, Chile. Add 2-4 days for warehouse consolidation and export documentation before sailing, plus 2-5 business days for customs clearance at destination.