Detroit, United States
Sea freight in Detroit
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Detroit, via Port of Detroit, road to Canada. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Detroit
- AirportDetroit Metropolitan
DTW - SeaportPort of Detroit, road to Canada
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is the main airport for south-east Michigan, with widebody passenger flights to Europe and Asia and freighter operations, and it is a major hub for Delta Air Lines. Willow Run Airport (YIP) nearby handles cargo charters, including urgent automotive parts. By sea, the Port of Detroit on the Detroit River handles bulk and breakbulk cargo via the St. Lawrence Seaway; most container freight reaches Detroit by rail from East Coast or Canadian ports. Detroit is also the busiest road crossing point between the US and Canada.
I-94, I-75, I-96 and I-696 connect the automotive plants of the region, and I-275 runs past DTW. The Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel link Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, and the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron provides another crossing to Canada. Rail freight also crosses the border via the rail tunnel under the Detroit River.
Operational logistics facts for Detroit
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) | Widebody and freighter connections to Europe and Asia | Direct air freight for the automotive industry |
| Willow Run Airport (YIP) | Cargo charters and urgent automotive parts | Charter option close to the plants |
| Ambassador Bridge and Blue Water Bridge | Road freight to and from Canada | Busiest US-Canada truck crossings |
| Michigan EV and battery plants | Components, battery materials and equipment | Support for new production supply chains |
Industries in Detroit and how we support them
Detroit is the centre of the US automotive industry, with headquarters and plants of the three Detroit car makers, a dense network of suppliers and a growing number of electric vehicle and battery plants in Michigan. Production depends on just-in-time supply chains that cross the Canadian and Mexican borders many times. We support them with air freight under our own air waybills via DTW, Next Flight Out and air charter options for line-stop situations, On-Board Courier for prototypes and tooling parts, and road freight across the Canadian border. Customs data and origin information are prepared before arrival.
FCL and LCL via Port of Detroit, road to Canada
Full containers are booked directly with the shipping line; for smaller volumes we use LCL consolidation services. Pre-carriage from Detroit to Port of Detroit, road to Canada, or on-carriage after arrival, is arranged by road or rail as part of the same booking.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Detroit?
Usually Port of Detroit, road to Canada. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.