Dallas, United States
Customs clearance in Dallas
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Dallas. Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
Industries in Dallas and how we support them
North Texas is a centre for semiconductors and electronics, with chip manufacturers in Dallas and Richardson, plus telecom, defence and aerospace companies in Fort Worth. Large distribution centres serve retail and e-commerce across the US. We support these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via DFW, sea freight through Houston or the West Coast with inland delivery, Next Flight Out for production-critical semiconductor equipment parts, and On-Board Courier for samples and prototypes. For technology exports we check export control requirements together with you.
Operational logistics facts for Dallas
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | Freighter and widebody air freight | Central US location for nationwide distribution |
| Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) | Industrial cargo airport with rail and logistics park | Air, rail and road combined in one location |
| I-35 corridor | Truck connection to Mexico and the Midwest | Direct road link to the Laredo border crossing |
| BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal terminals | Rail containers from Houston and the West Coast | Inland delivery of sea freight |
Airports, seaports and connections in Dallas
- AirportDallas/Fort Worth
DFW - SeaportPort Houstonby road
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the main cargo airport for North Texas, with freighter and widebody connections to Europe, Asia and Latin America and a central location for US distribution. Dallas Love Field (DAL) serves mainly domestic passenger traffic. Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) is an industrial airport focused on cargo and is part of the AllianceTexas logistics park. The region has no seaport; ocean freight reaches it from Port Houston by road or rail, or from the West Coast ports by rail.
Dallas-Fort Worth is a crossroads of I-35 (north-south from Laredo on the Mexican border to the Midwest), I-20, I-30 and I-45. BNSF and Union Pacific operate major intermodal terminals in the region, including at Alliance and south of Dallas. This combination of air, rail and road makes DFW one of the main inland distribution hubs in the US.
Clearance through the Ziem network in the United States
In the United States, customs entries are filed by a partner team in the Ziem network. They work under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures; our operations desk prepares the shipment data and remains your contact for the whole shipment.
Customs clearance in the United States
Ziem network
Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United States need an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond.
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
Can sea freight be cleared in Dallas instead of at the port?
Yes. Containers can move in bond from Houston or the West Coast to Dallas and be cleared there. Clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network under the Ziem Logistics brand, to our procedures and with the data we prepare.
What export controls apply to semiconductors shipped from Dallas?
Many semiconductors, equipment and related technology are subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and some destinations or end users require an export licence. The export classification is the exporter's responsibility; we check the documentation and file the Electronic Export Information (EEI) through AES.
What does an importer need for clearance at DFW?
An importer of record number, a customs bond for most formal entries, a commercial invoice and packing list, and correct HTSUS classifications. Entries are filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through ACE. Complete documents help avoid holds.