How does my freight get to Puerto Rico?

XPO moves all freight through the port in Jacksonville, FL. At this gateway, cargo is loaded into secure ocean containers and transported via sea to the XPO Service Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There, shipments are removed from the containers and delivered to the consignee’s door. Weekly sailings are available; contact LTL.PuertoRico@xpo.com or call (866) 431-0777.

Download our Puerto Rico Quick Reference Guide.

Will my shipments go through Customs?

Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. Customs territory and therefore no customs duties are assessed on products coming from the mainland United States. There is, however, a 11.5 percent excise tax (sales tax) applied on products imported into the island, as well as on those produced locally.

Do I need a freight forwarder to ship to Puerto Rico?

XPO can make all the arrangements for door-to-door movement of your materials to your customers in Puerto Rico. The same reliable regional and long-haul service can move your shipments to Puerto Rico directly with XPO.

How do I book a shipment to Puerto Rico?

• Get a rate quote online or by calling your local service center. You'll need to include the dimensions of the shipment and the commodity class.
  • Use our Density and Class Calculator and get freight measuring tips.
• Schedule a pickup request online or by calling your local Service Center.

What paperwork do I need to prepare my shipment to go to Puerto Rico?

The primary documents for tendering Puerto Rico shipments to XPO are:

1. A straight bill of lading including:

• Consignee’s name, street address, P.O. box (if applicable) and telephone number in Puerto Rico, Commodity description, weight and cube or dimensions
• Declared value by commodity
• Consignee’s Puerto Rico excise tax number (where applicable)
• Whether shipment charges are to be prepaid or collect

2. A commercial invoice — an invoice must be provided regardless of shipment value for taxation consideration in Puerto Rico.

3. A shipper’s export declaration with Electronic Export Information (EEI).

When is Electronic Export Information (EEI) required?

The U.S. Census Bureau requires an Electronic Export & Information (EEI) filing (formerly known as a Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED), if any of the following apply:

• Shipment of merchandise under the same Schedule B commodity number is valued at more than US $2,500
• Shipment contains merchandise, regardless of value, that requires an export license or permit
• Shipment is being sent to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria (regardless of value)
• Shipment contains rough diamonds (regardless of value)
• Shipment is a used self-propelled vehicle (regardless of value)
• An EEI is required for shipments with Schedule B commodities valued over US $2,500 for export statistics and control.

Products imported from outside the United States into Puerto Rico are subject to regular U.S. import taxes/regulations.

Complete the EEI through the Ace Secure Data Portal or contact our Puerto Rico Customer Care department at 866-431-0777 to file this for you. Letter of authorization is required. You can provide the ITN # on your bill of lading or authorize XPO to file for you.

What if I file my own EEI?

If you file your own EEI, you must note the following statement on the bill of lading:

"NDR AES ITN # ___________________"
This states no declaration is required as the shipper has filed the EEI and included the ITN number in the statement.

In lieu of the statement, the shipper may provide a copy of the AES Direct Shipment Record.

What if there are no commodities valued US $2,500 or more?

If there are no commodities valued at US $2,500 or more, you must note the following statement on the bill of lading: "NDR – Value is less than US $2,500". This states no declaration is required because the commodity value(s) is less than US $2,500. 

Will XPO file the AES on my behalf?

XPO works with our customers to ensure compliance with the Census Bureau and Department of Homeland Security regulations. We recommend the shipper file the EEI directly; however, if you have an authorization form on file with us, you can request XPO to electronically file the AES on your behalf. A fee will apply.

You must note the following statement on the bill of lading: "Authorization form on file".
Contact the XPO Customs Resource Center to request this service.

Are shipments based on weight or cube for Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico shipments are rated based on weight and volume (the cubic feet that the shipment takes up in a container). Calculate cube using our density and class calculator.

How many invoices should I expect?

To make your shipping experience easier, XPO provides a single invoice reflecting all of the following transportation elements:

• Inland U.S. Freight Charges to Gateway Port of Exit
• Ocean Charges from Port of Exit to Puerto Rico
• Bunker Fuel Surcharges (Assessed by Steamship Line)
• Delivery Charges within Puerto Rico
• Document Processing Charges