CBP Importer Number Crackdown: Cargo Can Stop at the Border

What happened

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started a new crackdown on Friday, Sept. 18. It cancels importer numbers that have wrong or missing information. CBP calls this "voiding" the number.

Every importer has an importer-of-record number, or IOR number. It is the ID for the company that is legally responsible for the goods. The details behind it come from CBP Form 5106.

CBP can now void an IOR number when the address, email or phone on that form is not real or not the importer's own. A broker's address does not count. A P.O. box does not count either.

A voided number is dead for every purpose. That includes clearing a shipment into the country. One law firm that tracks the rule says cargo can stop at the port with no warning.

FreightWaves reported on Sept. 21 that this could touch cross-border freight from Mexico and Canada. Affected cargo can pile up port costs while the importer fixes the problem with CBP.

What it means for owner-operators

You are not the importer. But you are the one sitting in the truck.

If a load's importer number gets voided, the freight cannot clear. Your load can sit at the port. Waiting costs you fuel, time and your next load.

The groups most at risk are foreign sellers, online sellers that use warehouses, and small importers with old records. If you haul for these customers, ask more questions.

Neither source we read names a Texas port. But the rule covers cargo coming from Mexico, so it matters to anyone who runs the border.

What to do next

Before you accept a cross-border load, use this checklist:

• Ask your broker or shipper if the importer's number is active and the data is current.
• Ask who pays if the load is held at the port. Get the answer in writing.
• Ask your customs broker to confirm the paperwork before you leave.
• Keep your own documents ready, so your side is never the delay.
• Call your insurance agent and ask what your policy does and does not cover when a load is held. Our guide on Mexico truck insurance for border crossing is a good start.

Want your own authority and permits in order before you cross? Our filing guide shows the steps.