Specialty Chemical Company Mitigates Risks While Increasing Efficiency

Challenge

This global specialty chemicals and materials company provides value-added products to a diverse range of industries. Due to the sensitive nature of its products it needed a partner with first-class knowledge of federal import and export regulations and compliance programs to make sure its goods are transported without penalties and unexpected delays.

Approach

OHL provides this customer with automated U.S. Customs clearance using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) of customs entry information, commercial invoices, and electronic transmittal of shipper’s Letter of Instruction. A dedicated account representative works with a team to handle all the extra steps needed to comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) as well as Importer Security Filing (ISF) for each customs entry. OHL provides export services including ocean transportation and all required paperwork for the customer’s cargo to Europe, Asia and South America. In addition, an internal audit of the customer’s control procedures was conducted by OHL’s Trade Services Group to identify new efficiencies and to bring any potential problems to the attention of the customer so that an audit by U.S. Customs would not result in any surprises.

Value

By having OHL as its logistics partner, the customer benefits from OHL’s top compliance rating and availability of subject matter experts for value-added services. Automation with U.S. Customs using EDI reduces paperwork and allows for quick audit of entries to save valuable time. Besides handling imports into the U.S., OHL also provides this customer with export ocean transportation to worldwide destinations.

Return on Investment

ROI is realized in terms of efficiency, reduced labor costs, evasion of penalties and a complete single source import and export compliance and transportation solution.