Transloading in Los Angeles & Long Beach
Ocean containers into 53ft domestic trailers at partner facilities near the San Pedro Bay ports — coordinated with customs clearance, drayage and trucking
Transloading Near the Ports of LA and Long Beach
Most import cargo that arrives at the Port of Los Angeles or the Port of Long Beach is not going to Los Angeles. Transloading moves it out of the ocean container and into a domestic 53ft trailer at a facility near the port, so the cargo travels inland in fewer, larger trucks and the ocean container goes straight back to the terminal.
American Global Freights arranges transloading through partner facilities near both ports and runs it as one move with the rest of your shipment: customs clearance by our licensed customs brokers, drayage from the terminal, the transload itself, and FTL or LTL delivery anywhere in the United States through vetted carrier partners. If the goods need to wait, they can go into storage near the ports first.
When Transloading Pays — and When It Doesn't
Usually worth it
- Light, bulky cargo going far inland: roughly three 40ft containers of floor-loaded cartons fit into two 53ft trailers
- One container for several destinations — distribution centers, stores or customers
- Cargo that must be palletized, labeled or sorted before delivery
- Long inland trips, where keeping the carrier's container out would run up per diem
Often better to keep it in the container
- Dense cargo — stone, tile, metal, machinery — that fills a trailer by weight, not space
- A single delivery within reach of the port
- Inland points the carrier serves by rail in the same container
- Small volumes, where handling costs outweigh the trucking saved
Transloading is priced on the handling — per container, per pallet or by the hour, plus any palletizing, labeling and storage — and on the domestic trucking it replaces. We quote both options side by side so you can compare.
How a Transload Works
- 1
Customs clearance before arrival
The ISF goes in before your cargo is loaded at origin and our licensed customs brokers file the entry ahead of arrival, so the container is free to leave the terminal once it is discharged.
Customs brokerage in Los Angeles - 2
Drayage to the transload facility
Our drayage partners pick the container up at the Los Angeles or Long Beach terminal and take it to a partner transload facility near the ports, within free time.
Port drayage - 3
Unload, check and sort
The cargo is unloaded, counted against the packing list and photographed, damage is noted, and cartons are palletized, labeled or sorted by destination as your orders require.
- 4
Load out or store
Cargo goes onto 53ft trailers for full truckloads, into LTL for smaller drops, or into storage until it is called off.
Warehousing near the ports - 5
Return the empty and deliver
The empty ocean container goes back to the terminal or depot, and our carrier partners deliver the trailers to your warehouse, distribution centers or customers anywhere in the US.
Ground transportation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is transloading?
When does transloading save money?
How many 40ft containers fit into a 53ft trailer?
Can heavy cargo be transloaded?
Do you have a bonded warehouse?
What is the difference between transloading and cross-docking?
Get a Transloading Quote
Tell us the containers, the cargo and where it is going — we will compare transloading with keeping it in the container. Call +1 (818) 220-8800.
Request a Free Quote
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