The International Trade Blog arrow Export Compliance

If You’re Relying on Your Freight Forwarder for Export Compliance, You’ve Probably Already Violated the Law

On: June 27, 2018    |    By: David Noah David Noah    |    4 min. read

If You're Relying on Your Freight Forwarder for Export Compliance, You've Probably Already Violated the Law | Shipping SolutionsYou wouldn’t appropriate money from your company for your own use and benefit.

You wouldn’t send documentation with a forged signature.

You wouldn’t commit fraud in filing or paying your business taxes.

You know each of these actions are illegal. You could face civil and criminal charges, penalties and even jail time for each of these offenses.

At first blush, it may seem like relying on your freight forwarder has little in common with these obviously illegal activities. But, in the eyes of the law, a violation of the law is still a violation. So, why are you still relying on your freight forwarder to make sure your exporting practices are compliant?

What Is My Role as an Exporter?

When we talk about export compliance responsibilities of exporters and their freight forwarders, consider this:

You Are the Manager

Software automation makes it easy to input data and send it along. It takes the headaches out of an arduous process, saves time, and, ultimately, saves money when done correctly. However, when used carelessly, it also makes it easier for regulators to see mistakes and errors, which can cost you severely.

It’s up to you to make sure the person or people who are inputting data, completing forms, and signing documents are trained, skilled and ready to explain their work should a question arise. (You'll find a variety of export training options at the International Business Training website.)

You should be responsible for your own product classification, reporting, and recordkeeping. It’s easy to pass those responsibilities along to your freight forwarder, but it’s a slippery slope, because forwarders rely on the information you provide. Just review the Bureau of Industry and Security's Don't Let This Happen to You! publication to see how you put yourself at risk when relying on others.

Your freight forwarder is your representative, but they’re not you. You know your business the best. They expect accuracy in the documents you provide. Their role is arranging and managing the transportation of goods—not serving as your company's compliance personnel.

You Are the Boss

The freight forwarders your company hires are your stand-ins. Select the best possible candidates to make sure they represent you well. Here are some questions to consider when selecting a freight forwarder:

  • Does this forwarder have experience in my product, shipment method, and destination country?
  • How is the staff trained?
  • What does the forwarder expect of me?
  • What is the communication expectation, and how will the forwarder meet that expectation?

If your freight forwarder can’t or won’t answer your questions, move along. Also, be wary of rates that are too good to be true. Often, you get what you pay for. Check out the article, 4 Things the Best Freight Forwarders Have in Common.

You Are Ultimately Liable

Ultimately, compliance is your responsibility. Take control of export compliance by choosing your freight forwarder wisely and maintaining control of and responsibility for your exports. Remember, you can’t outsource liability.

Check out the free white paper, What You Need to Know about Export Compliance, to get an understanding of your company's compliance responsibilities. Make sure you and your colleagues get the training you need to comply with U.S. export regulations. Check out the article, 8 Free Resources for Training Exporters.

Here are a few more export compliance resources available on this website that may answer your questions:

What’s at Risk?

According to the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), fines for export violations can reach up to $1 million per violation in criminal cases; in administrative cases, fines can result in a penalty amounting to the greater of $250,000 or twice the value of the transaction.

In addition, criminal violators may be sentenced to prison for up to 20 years, and administrative penalties may include denial of export privileges. These penalties are almost always devastating for small-to-medium-sized companies.

Fortunately, these situations can be prevented. What You Need To Know About Export Compliance will help you identify other common areas you must consider to remain on the right side of compliance.


This article was first published in October 2014 and has been updated to include current information, links and formatting.

David Noah

About the Author: David Noah

David Noah is the founder and president of Shipping Solutions, the #1 selling export documentation software that develops and sells export documentation and compliance software targeted at U.S. companies that export. David is a frequent speaker on export documentation and compliance issues and has published several articles on the topic.

Learn the basics of export compliance.

Even the smallest companies need to know and understand U.S. export regulations or face potentially significant penalties. This free guide outlines the essential things you need to know in an easy-to-read-and-understand format. Avoid future headaches; download it now.

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What You Need to Know about Export Compliance | Shipping Solutions
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