CBP is the premier border control agency of the United States, charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs, and immigration.
For heavy equipment companies, CBP is the gatekeeper that can either facilitate a quick transit or trap your expensive machinery in a months-long legal limbo.
72-Hour Rule for Used Vehicles
If you are exporting any self-propelled vehicle (excavator, truck, forklift) from the U.S., you cannot just drive it to the port. You must validate the title with CBP at least 72 hours prior to export.
- You must present the original Title (or proof of ownership) to the CBP office at the port.
- CBP checks the VIN against the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database to ensure the machine isn’t stolen.
- Once cleared, they stamp the title. Without this stamp, the steamship line will not load your cargo. If you miss the 72-hour window, your shipment rolls to the next vessel (~a week later).
Soil Contamination and Cleanliness
CBP enforces USDA (Department of Agriculture) regulations. This is the #1 reason for import delays on used machinery. If you import a tractor from Europe and CBP inspectors find a clump of French soil in the wheel well, they will flag the shipment for Emergency Action.
- Consequence: You cannot just clean it there. The equipment must be re-exported immediately or hauled to a specialized, expensive sanitization facility.
- Fix: Steam clean everything before it leaves the origin. Remove all panels and belly pans to wash out dried mud.
ACE (Automated Commercial Environment)
CBP uses a digital portal called ACE to track shipments. All your filings — from the ISF (Importer Security Filing) to the final Entry Summary — go through here. ACE allows CBP to target high-risk shipments algorithmically. If you classify a Hydraulic Excavator (duty-free) as a Truck (25% tariff) to save money, ACE’s algorithms will likely flag the discrepancy for an audit.