Freight Forwarder in Miami, Florida
Platton, the #1 import-focused forwarder in the US, is a Miami freight forwarder for importers bringing cargo from Asia and Europe through the Port of Miami on weekly sailings. PortMiami is the primary US gateway for Latin America and Caribbean trade, processing over one million TEUs annually in container freight. Platton books ocean freight, brings air freight in through Miami International Airport (MIA) and runs drayage from the PortMiami terminals. From there, Platton delivers containers to the warehouse districts around Doral and Medley or moves them on by truck and rail across Florida and the Southeast.
How Platton Moves Freight Through Miami
PortMiami sits at the southern tip of Biscayne Bay and handles container freight from Latin America, the Caribbean, and transshipment cargo between trade lanes. Platton books space at the origin port in Asia or Europe, follows the vessel to its berth and sends the truck to whichever terminal the steamship line discharges at.
Miami International Airport is the top US airport for international freight on Latin American routes and a critical link for perishables, pharma cold chain, and time-sensitive goods. Platton coordinates air freight inbound through MIA alongside ocean shipments, giving importers a single operator across both modes at this gateway.
Freight Forwarder Services From Miami
Platton handles ocean freight, air freight, drayage and inland delivery through Miami.
PortMiami: Terminal Coverage and Drayage
The Port of Miami is the primary US container gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean, handling freight from Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and additional markets across the region. The port also functions as a transshipment hub connecting feeder services from smaller Caribbean ports to mainline carrier loops. Platton handles container drayage from all major PortMiami terminals and shows importers the full landed cost at this gateway.
Three principal terminals operate at PortMiami. POMTOC (Port of Miami Terminal Operating Company) is the largest container facility at the port. South Florida Container Terminal (SFCT) is the second primary operation, serving steamship lines on LatAm and Caribbean loops. Seaboard Marine operates a dedicated terminal covering Latin America and Caribbean trade across more than 30 countries. If your steamship line calls at any of these terminals, Platton dispatches drayage as soon as the container is released. Platton drayage averages 36 hours from gate-out to delivery across all the ports it serves.
Ocean Freight to Miami
Miami is the central node for Latin American and Caribbean ocean imports into the United States. Platton books FCL and LCL ocean freight for PortMiami with Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen and Hapag-Lloyd, loading at Shanghai, Ningbo, Ho Chi Minh City and Nhava Sheva in Asia and at Rotterdam and Antwerp in Europe.
Air Freight Through Miami International Airport (MIA)
Miami International Airport is the top US airport for international air cargo on Latin American routes and the primary cold chain gateway for perishable and pharmaceutical freight. Platton arranges air freight inbound to MIA from Asia and Europe, covering standard consolidation and time-critical options. For pharma and produce shipments, Platton coordinates temperature-controlled handling through MIA cargo facilities.
Customs Clearance for Miami Imports
Customs clearance at the Miami port of entry starts at origin. The ISF filing happens before departure, at least 24 hours before cargo is loaded, and the customs entry is filed up to 5 days before arrival at PortMiami. The entry declares the HTS classification and the duties owed, and any partner government agency holds have to clear before the container is released. Miami is a high-volume FDA and USDA port of entry given the food, pharma, and agricultural cargo it receives. For imports with clean documentation, customs entry clears within 24 to 72 hours.
Industries Platton Serves Through Miami
Platton handles freight forwarding through Miami across these industries:
Pharma and life sciences cargo via MIA cold chain, for the South Florida healthcare and biotech market
Perishables and produce through MIA, the primary US air cargo gateway for fresh imports
Apparel and fashion goods moving by ocean through PortMiami and air through MIA
Construction materials and building products for South Florida and the Southeast US market
Consumer electronics and general merchandise for Florida and Southeast distribution
E-commerce brands restocking inventory by ocean or air through PortMiami and MIA
Industrial equipment and replacement parts for Florida plants and distributors
Why Importers Choose Platton as Their Miami Freight Forwarder
Miami importers price, book and follow their freight on the AI-driven Platton cargo management platform, which pairs live quotes and automated documents with real-time container tracking. At PortMiami, that tracking follows each container from POMTOC, SFCT or Seaboard Marine to delivery. For pharma and perishable importers through MIA, cold chain coordination is part of the air freight service.
Member of WCA, JCtrans and NCBFAA
US offices in Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Savannah
Weekly sailings from Asia and Europe with Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen and Hapag-Lloyd
Live quotes with every charge named before you book
Drayage from 42 US ports and rail ramps, with 93% same-day port pickup
Miami Freight Forwarders: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Platton runs drayage from POMTOC, South Florida Container Terminal (SFCT) and Seaboard Marine, the three container terminals on PortMiami's Dodge Island, and dispatches a truck as soon as the container is released.
Yes. Platton books FCL ocean freight from major Chinese ports to PortMiami, including Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Shekou, and Qingdao, routed via the Panama Canal with transit times of approximately 28 to 38 days on direct strings. LCL consolidation is available for importers whose volume does not fill a full container, with Asia consolidation hubs covering most major load ports.
A Miami quote from Platton lists the ocean or air leg, drayage from POMTOC, SFCT or Seaboard Marine, chassis, terminal handling and inland delivery, with cargo insurance added on request. Each charge is shown by name before you book, and booking locks the rate.
Yes. One pallet moves as LCL, sharing a container with other cargo on the sailing to PortMiami, and you pay for the space it takes up.
Get a Miami freight quote
Provide the origin, destination, container type or cargo weight and dimensions for air, and the cargo description.
Platton Freight Forwarder Pages for Other Cities
Platton handles freight forwarding through every major US gateway. Explore other locations: