Frequently Asked Questions

GEODIS Freight Forwarding results from the 2006 merger between GEODIS Overseas, the air and sea freight arm of the GEODIS Group, and TNT Freight Management, formerly known as Wilson Logistics, a 169-year-old company with Scandinavian roots. In 2008, the GEODIS Group acquired Rohde & Liesenfeld, a German-based international air and sea freight forwarding group, that was merged into the GEODIS Freight Forwarding division. 

Also in 2008 the GEODIS group became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF. GEODIS has been providing Custom Brokerage services since 1968. 

GEODIS shares our best-in-class knowledge and experience to benefit our clients. We host an annual, full-day seminar on freight forwarding and customs services. This gives our clients the opportunity to ask questions, get answers, learn, and participate in a professional and welcoming setting. 

The agenda is packed with both GEODIS and guest speakers, providing information on import, export, customs brokerage, logistics, and several other areas. Many of our speakers have leadership roles in key trade organizations such as the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association and the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones.  

We also initiate and support trade-facing educational programs. These diverse offerings allow the import and export community to access the unique expertise of a customs broker. We also promote collaboration between traders and offer traders the opportunity to meet and build relationships with key government officials on a national scale. 

For customs brokerage information, we provide blog posts and emails called "Customs Corner" to notify importers of changing regulations that will impact their business.  We also hold seminars and client broadcasts to educate and assist importers, helping to ensure their compliance with new regulations. 

Our “Expertise Insights” knowledge base shares extensive information on many aspects of customs brokerage in an objective, easy-to-understand, and accessible way. 

We’re very engaged with many government agencies, including USCBP, at both a national and local level. Members of our Customs Brokerage and Trade Services teams lead our government relations work. Together they engage with USCBP as: 

• Representatives to the Customer Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) 
• Trade representatives of the Trade Supply Network 
• Board members of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America 
• Stakeholders with other national and international trade organizations 

Our engagement with governmental agencies ensures that both GEODIS and our clients can understand and influence customs policies and processes.  

Locally, GEODIS is heavily involved with USCBP and other agencies at all key US ports of entry. We also maintain strong, local ties with other associations and trade organizations. These engagements ensure we have access to people with knowledge of local and day-to-day activities that are critical to efficient customs brokerage and clearance.  

GEODIS provides several value-added services for customs brokerage and freight forwarding. These include: Importer Security Filing and Management Services, Foreign-Trade Zone Services, Merchandise Processing Fee Savings Initiative, C-TPAT Counseling, and Trade Services Consulting such as Product Classification, Customs Audit Program, Duty Drawback, and Reconciliation. 

Our Trade Services division is staffed by a group of skilled trade compliance professionals. We integrate closely with our client’s trade departments to provide expert consulting and support. 

Our trade compliance experts have extensive experience and kn0wkledge gained from previous careers in Customs Brokerage, Forwarding, Customs and Border Protection, and import/export companies. Our team includes Licensed Customs Brokers, Certified Customs Specialists, Certified Export Specialists, Former CBP lead auditors, and CPAs.  

We are members of various government and trade organizations, including the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection, Trade Ambassador, Trade Leadership Council, and International Federation of Customs Brokers. 

Yes, our Trade Services department provides compliance and regulatory functions. 

Yes, we have been offering FTZ services and processing FTZ entries for more than 30 years. We provide support for the entry, withdrawal, and reconciliation of products for all aspects of FTZs. 

Yes, we handle both one-off de minimis clearances, as well as manifest clearances for consolidated low value parcels coming into the US. GEODIS understands the regulatory restrictions surrounding these clearances. When dealing with thousands of individually consigned parcels, we work with our customers to ensure compliance and obtain any necessary clearances using informal and formal entry processes. 

We provide multiple programs and services to help our clients reduce their customs, duty, and other fees.   

Tariff and duty engineering are strategies that allow importers to legally reduce the customs duties paid on imported products. Ideally, this engineering should take place at the start of the product design process. We can advise on tariff engineering, including cost of materials, cost of manufacture, and marketability. We can recommend small changes in design processes to reclassify a final product under a more favorable duty category, resulting in lower duties paid.   

We can also recommend replacing items in a bundle and changing manufacturing locations to create additional financial benefits. 

GEODIS also has a Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) saving program where we analyze projected cost savings and use the entry consolidation program to reduce costs. We consolidate entries based on entry type, port of entry, vessel/voyage, and ETA.  We review certain commodities based on their risk level, delivery location, and other factors. We monitor shipments to ensure that they arrive as originally forecast and make any adjustments as needed.  We provide monthly reports to show MPF savings. We also carry out quarterly audits to review any missed consolidation opportunities and recommend changes to maximize cost reductions through MPF.  

This can provide considerable client savings on duties, taxes, and brokerage fees. 

We have clients who purchase certain goods overseas that are produced by manufacturers other than their suppliers. The goods are sold by the manufacturer to the supplier at a lower cost than what is paid to our customers. GEODIS works with our clients and USCBP to use the First Sale price (manufacturer to supplier) as a base for dutiable value. As an example, our first sale program has saved one of our customers over $2m in annual duties. 

Our Trade Services department is staffed with Licensed Customs Brokers and former US Customs Officers. We provide deep expertise in the areas of Special Trade Programs and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Our consulting services will help determine if you’re eligible to take advantage of a trade program or FTA. We assist with documentation and authorization for trade programs and support trade program entry requirements and clearance.  

We can complete audits prior to duty payment to validate any claims or disclaimers. GEODIS provides regular reports detailing duty savings as a result of these programs. 

We’ve processed millions of customs entries for dozens of companies who import apparel, footwear, and similar products. We review and classify products, offer training, advise on tariff engineering, and provide multiple customs and trade services for the sector. We’re delighted to be a preferred customs broker partner for the US Fashion Industry Association. 

In addition to having classification experience and knowledge in these areas, we also assist companies that are entering merchandise under free trade agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA, IFTA, ATPDEA, and the PFTA.