Los Angeles, United States
Sea freight in Los Angeles
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Los Angeles, via Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Los Angeles
- AirportLos Angeles International
LAX - AirportOntario
ONT - SeaportPorts of Los Angeles and Long Beach
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the main air cargo airport on the US West Coast, with heavy freighter and belly capacity to Asia and the Pacific. Ontario International Airport (ONT), in the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles, is a fast-growing cargo airport close to the region's large warehouse districts. By sea, the neighbouring Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in San Pedro Bay together form the busiest container port complex in the United States and the main US gateway for trade with Asia.
The Alameda Corridor is a dedicated rail line carrying containers from the San Pedro Bay ports to the rail yards near downtown Los Angeles, from where they continue east. Trucks use I-710, I-110, I-405 and I-5, while I-10 and State Route 60 lead to the Inland Empire distribution centres around Ontario, Riverside and San Bernardino. Traffic congestion is a real planning factor for delivery windows.
Operational logistics facts for Los Angeles
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Freighter and belly capacity to Asia and the Pacific | Main West Coast air cargo gateway |
| Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach | FCL/LCL containers from Asia | Busiest container port complex in the US |
| Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Air cargo close to Inland Empire warehouses | Shorter trucking to the main distribution centres |
| Alameda Corridor rail line | Port-to-rail container transfer | Efficient rail link for inland destinations |
Industries in Los Angeles and how we support them
Southern California imports large volumes of consumer goods, apparel and electronics from Asia and has a strong aerospace and defence industry around El Segundo, Long Beach and the high desert. The entertainment industry regularly ships camera, lighting and stage equipment on a temporary basis. We support these flows with air freight under our own air waybills via LAX and ONT, FCL and LCL sea freight through the San Pedro Bay ports, Next Flight Out for aerospace parts and On-Board Courier for prototypes. For temporary equipment we prepare the customs documents, including ATA carnets where applicable.
FCL and LCL via Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
Full containers are booked directly with the shipping line; for smaller volumes we use LCL consolidation services. Pre-carriage from Los Angeles to Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, 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 Los Angeles?
Usually Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.