Port of Baltimore or Newark?

Hi everyone. I’m about 2 weeks away from starting my search for a truck, and would like to hear about some experiences with people who have used the port of Baltimore vs Newark. I’m right in between both, so distance isn’t an issue. Are the wait times for Newark really pretty bad? Is Baltimore as disorganized and strict as I’ve been told?

 

Is there a reason that would be a dealbreaker and to go for Baltimore instead?

 

That's not my understanding of the differences. Informal entry still requires the appropriate customs duty to be paid, which will be 25% for all cargo-carrying vehicles (all trucks, most vans-even many that have seatbelts in the back). Informal entry can only apply to vehicles purchased for $2,500 or less.

When you go through formal entry, there are additional paperwork requirements and most noticeably: you must have a customs bond. This will likely be a few hundred dollars extra. At this point, you must go through a broker, as it will not be possible to do all the appropriate filing as an individual directly to CBP. Many of the common online services will enable you to do all of this at a relatively low price in a mostly self-service style, but it's still a higher cost than something that is brought in through informal entry.

 

I picked up my Sambar from Newark last week.
Very easy process, I was in and out within 30 minutes.

 

In Newark, where did or how did you pay your import duty? I have a Sambar arriving on a Nissan RoRo next month.

 

I actually have a Sambar coming next month via Nissan as well. I wonder if we’re on the same boat; Gracious Ace your boat name?

I’m using a broker as well so I believe the invoice they will send me will have that included. I will have to check.

 

I used a broker too, it's an easy process.

This is the company I used International Freight Forwarder-USA World Class Shipping (wcscargo.com)

If you get a BOL before the truck gets on the ship you save about $175 in fees for bonds

Funny I might see you at the port, I have a Fuso Bravo coming in on the same ship, Gracious Ace

I will be there early lol

 

Nice! The company I'm using was found on a Sambar group, I just know the guy's name is Michael but he has a pretty good rep from what I've seen. Hopefully all goes well. I sent them my BOL as soon as I got it so hopefully I'll be able to save that fee!

Haha, thats great that your truck is coming on the same ship! The Bravo is a cool van. I'm going to try to get there early too...I'll have to head over ASAP after the truck is cleared customs.

 

Yes, my truck is on the same boat. Are you using a U-haul to get it home?

 

Yep! I will be using the Uhaul 6x12 trailer with ramp…I’ve read that its a very tight fit going in, like 1 inch clearance each side, but if you have someone to help guide you in its easier. I do see the suggestion here for the one with no ramp, but I unfortunately don’t have ramps to use to get my truck up on the trailer.

 

I used a u-haul “car hauler”
Worked out great, the van was just wide enough to fit on the rails
I think I paid $60-70 for the 24 hour rental

 

I’m thinking of using the car hauler instead after some additional research and your experience. Seems easier and safer to load. I just bought some heavier duty straps so should be good to strap it down.

 

good choice
The car hauler has built-in ratchet straps in the front, they work perfect, then they have a chain in the back to secure
I didn’t use any extra straps in the back, but I probably should have
I took it slow back, the van didn’t move at all, it’s a very robust trailer especially for these kei vehicles that don’t weigh much

 

Ah okay so you do drive up all the way to the front of the trailer? I thought with how short these kei trucks/vans are, it would put too much weight in front and not enough in the back and might make it squirrelly, but I’m not a towing expert. I was under the impression that with the keis it should be more centered.

 

Definitely pull the truck all the way to the front of the trailer.
Drive on straight, like I said the tires just make the rails.
The front straps have the wheel harness so it is very easy to secure
The trailer also has surge brakes, so that will help in your travel home

I pulled it with a 4dr 1500 ram w/ a 6-1/2ft bed and I barely knew it was back there, nice and smooth

The v8 handled the load great

 

Thats good to know, thank you! I’ll do it that way then. I can use the straps I bought for the rear in that case.

I’ll be towing with a 2008 Nissan Xterra, so has a 4.0L v6. It’ll be within the tow limits of it, but of course it’s not a full size truck like the Ram so I’ll be taking it slow. I have only towed a handful of times before this.

 

Just brought my truck home from the port of Baltimore on 30 October. We used the Uhaul 6x12 utility trailer without ramp. Some notes from our pickup:

• We used the A-1 Escort Service to get us into the port. They were very helpful and easy to work with, but I didn't expect to be sitting around as long as I did in their parking lot waiting to go to the port. It was about 3 hours before we had an escort taking us in, despite being there 20 minutes before the port opened.
• Port process went extremely fast. We were driving off the nearby escort lot, waiting in line to enter the port, driving through, clearing paperwork, and leaving with our loaded truck in almost exactly 1 hour. Security escort made this process very fast by being extremely helpful with knowing exactly what was needed at what place and getting us to the right spots immediately. The escort warned us that we should expect to be waiting for hours before being moved onward, but was just as surprised as we were to constantly be rubber-stamped forward.
• The ramps I brought were quite dramatic. Way more flex than was expected, but it held and we loaded just fine. With how low the uhaul trailer gate sits, it's pretty tempting to just use some wood boards or plastic vehicle ramps to bump up the distance instead of the metal utility ramps... In fact, we used plastic service ramps to unload the trailer back at home.
• Check your straps. I had some nice over-the-wheel straps to hold the truck down to the trailer, but the length and locations of tie-downs on the trailer made the angles a bit difficult to work with correctly. Straps repeatedly kept slipping around the wheel and coming loose in the rear only. We had the parking brake set and front wheels chocked in case this might happen, but after the 2nd time of this happening, we took the straps off the rear wheels and instead ran those straps around the tailgate of the trailer (it was pretty overbuilt) and clipped into the towing brackets on the back of the frame of the Sambar. That seemed to do the trick of ending all the bounce and we didn't have any issues with any straps for the last 700 miles.
• Our towing speed averaged around 60-65 MPH the whole way. You'd feel it start to get unstable at 70, but coasting back would always bring it back under confident control. We actively tried to keep it at 65 and were a bit slower in some of the windy areas over the mountains.

 

That is not how it works. Informal Entry is part of the Code of Federal Regulations under 19 CFR § 128.24. A single port cannot just "not allow" for their defined regulations.

That is also not how this works. Duty percentage is solely determined by the item declaration code from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).
"Motor Vehicles for the transport of goods" (aka trucks) all have HTS codes that start with 8704, and will be subject to a 25% import duty.
"Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons" (aka vans with back seats and cars) all have HTS codes that start with 8703. and will be subject to a 2.5% import duty.

If a broker is telling you either of the above, then they are purposely trying to screw you. They are likely going to charge you for an entry bond (not required on informal entries) and the extra 22.5% duty and keeping it for themselves.

 

Japspec, did you receive your arrival notice today? Boat is supposed to dock on Friday. Guessing that the vehicles will be available on Monday. Still waiting on World Class Shipping to finish my documents.

 

I did not actually…my broker was supposed to invoice me last week and never did, so maybe I’ll reach out to them and see what they say. I’m getting antsy, haha.

 

Forgot to ask, what are you using to track the ship? I've been using vesselfinder, not sure if theres a better way to track.

 

I'm using VesselFinder also. The ship was in Jacksonville, Fl., but the location is not up to date unless you pay.

 

Get excited boys
Gracious Ace is steaming up the East Coast !!

The current position of GRACIOUS ACE is at US East Coast reported 5 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Brunswick, United States (USA

 

I am definitely getting excited, dying to get my hands on the truck! Once it clears customs I’ll be reserving my Uhaul trailer.

 

You guys get your arrival notices? I just got mine!

 

I just got mine too

 

Nice! I'm not 100% sure what to do next, so I'll see what my broker tells me. Its my first time importing.

 

Ship has left Brunswick Georgia 14 hours ago and is expected to make Port Newark in a day. Guess it will sit anchored until it's docked Monday morning.

Why doesn't this thread topic appear as first in the General sub-forum? It has the most recent activity? What is wrong with this board?

 

I wonder how long after docking and unloading it takes to go through customs. Was hoping to have the truck before Thanksgiving weekend but looks like it might be after.

Not sure, this thread definitely has the most activity recently lol. I sure do miss the days when internet forums were more active though.

 

You need to get the cargo release document from customs

on my arrival notice I have to wire Norton Lilly International $50 before they will release truck as well

It looks like Tuesday is the day for me to pick up by the time I get all the paperwork together