Ocean Freight Forwarding for High-Volume US Importers
Platton moves FCL and LCL ocean freight from any origin into US ports, and owns the file from vessel booking through customs clearance and delivery to your warehouse. You get one freight specialist on the account, pricing locked at booking, and live tracking on every container. For importers running regular volume, that means fewer surprise charges and fewer calls to the carrier.
Container Shipping With Fewer Surprises and More Visibility
Most ocean problems trace back to the same gaps: quotes that move with the departure date, containers that go dark between ports, and customs holds nobody flagged in time. Platton closes all three. Pricing is locked at booking, every shipment is visible in real time, and customs clearance runs through our licensed brokers.
We handle vessel booking, documentation, port coordination, and delivery for both FCL shipping and LCL shipping, and we keep your operations team updated without anyone chasing status.
Reliability and speed
A five-day vessel delay can cost a retailer window, trigger demurrage, and put your warehouse on overtime. Platton pre-screens carriers for on-time performance on each lane and routes around known port congestion, so the container lands when you planned.
Confirmed carrier space
Direct relationships with the major ocean carriers mean Platton books confirmed space, including in peak season when spot-market bookings roll. You get competitive rates and a sailing schedule you can plan around.
Locked-in pricing
Platton checks ocean freight rates daily and locks your price at booking, so the number you approve before departure is the number on the invoice. No BAF adjustment after the fact, no port surcharge that appears later.
Real-time container tracking
You see the container from origin loading through vessel departure, port arrival, customs release, and final delivery. Updates reach your team automatically, so nobody has to call us to find the box.
Where Ocean Shipments Go Wrong, and How Platton Prevents It
Port congestion and vessel rollovers
Congestion, rollovers, and missed ETAs cascade into warehouse overtime, empty shelves, and chargebacks. Platton watches every active shipment and flags a delay 48 to 72 hours before it becomes a cost, so you can adjust before the container is already late.
Unclear all-in costs
Platton quotes the all-in cost at booking, covering ocean freight, destination charges, and customs processing. For FCL shipping and LCL consolidations alike, there are no invoice lines nobody mentioned at quote time.
ISF filing and customs paperwork
Bill of lading, ISF filing, customs entry, delivery order. Platton coordinates each document with carriers, port agents, and licensed brokers. Your team sends the commercial invoice and packing list, and we handle the rest.
Platton's Ocean Freight Track Record
Platton moves regular container volume on the main import lanes into US ports, with confirmed carrier space and customs handled on every shipment. The credentials behind that:
Member of WCA, FIATA, and JCtrans, the global freight-forwarding networks that vet and connect established forwarders worldwide.
Confirmed space with Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen, and Hapag-Lloyd on every major lane into the US.
US offices in Seattle, Savannah, Portland, and Chicago, with drayage and delivery across 30 US metros.
Import lanes from China, Vietnam, India, and Europe into every major US gateway: Los Angeles and Long Beach, New York and New Jersey, Savannah, Houston, Seattle, and Oakland.
FCL, LCL, and buyers consolidation on one file, with customs cleared through licensed brokers on every shipment.
Confirmed Space Across Major Ocean Carriers
Platton books with Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, and other established lines. That secures confirmed space and competitive rates on every major lane into the US, including the lanes the spot market drops when rates spike.
What Every Platton Ocean Shipment Includes
Platton's ocean service covers the whole move.
Every shipment includes:
FCL shipping and LCL shipping with confirmed carrier space at booking
Port-to-door delivery, from origin port through customs release to your warehouse
Real-time cargo tracking from vessel departure to customs release
Customs and port documentation coordinated by licensed brokers
Coverage on all major lanes into the US, including shipping from China to the USA
LCL consolidation for smaller volumes, and buyers consolidation when you source from several suppliers
How Platton Manages Ocean Freight Rates and Costs
What drives ocean freight rates
Fuel prices, port congestion, trade volumes, and carrier blank sailings can move ocean rates inside a single quarter. Platton tracks these signals so your team sees pressure building before it reaches the invoice.
How we lock in pricing at booking
For importers shipping on a regular schedule, Platton locks rates at booking and holds them through departure. You plan landed cost on a number that does not move, instead of rebooking on the spot market at peak.
One Partner for Booking, Customs, and Delivery
Ocean freight is the cheapest way to move volume internationally, until unstable rates, tight capacity, and document delays eat the savings.
Platton runs booking, documentation, customs, and delivery on one file, with automation pulling data straight from your shipping documents to cut manual entry and keep tracking in one place. Whether you ship LCL consolidations or full containers, every move runs with the same control.
Start Your Next Ocean Shipment with Platton
If you want an ocean freight partner that runs the move cleanly and tells you where the container is, Platton is ready. You get transparent pricing, confirmed carrier space, and customs handled for every shipment into the US.
Get a Quote
Book and track ocean shipments in real time, from booking confirmation to delivery receipt
AI-powered rate comparison and route optimization for your departure window, instead of taking the first carrier with space
One point of contact for every sea freight question, not a ticket queue
Explore Platton's Ocean Freight Services
Go deeper on the part of the move that matters for your cargo.
FCL Shipping:
full container load, when you have the volume
LCL Shipping:
less than container load, billed by cubic meter
Buyers Consolidation:
combine several suppliers into one container
Common Questions About Ocean Freight
Ocean freight moves your cargo by container vessel from an origin port to a US port, then inland to your warehouse. Platton books the sailing, prepares the documents, clears customs by licensed brokers, and arranges drayage and delivery. Transit runs roughly 14 to 18 days from China to the US West Coast and 28 to 35 days to the East Coast, before customs and inland delivery.
FCL (full container load) gives you a whole 20ft or 40ft container, which is faster to handle and cheaper per unit once you have the volume. LCL (less than container load) shares a container with other shippers and is billed by cubic meter, which fits smaller shipments. Platton runs both and can tell you where the break-even falls for your cargo. See FCL shipping and LCL shipping.
Three ways: direct carrier relationships that lock competitive rates before peak surges, LCL and buyers consolidation when a full container is not warranted, and all-in pricing at booking so nothing is added at invoice time.
Yes. Platton coordinates ISF filing, customs entry, and port documents by licensed brokers on every shipment. Your team provides the commercial invoice and packing list, and we flag any compliance issue before the vessel arrives, not after the container is held.
An ocean freight forwarder manages the container move on your behalf: carrier booking, bill of lading, documentation, vessel tracking, port coordination, customs clearance, and final delivery. Platton is your single point of contact across all of those parties.
Ocean is the right call when cargo is heavy or bulky and the timeline allows a few weeks in transit, which covers most manufactured goods and raw materials. When a shipment is urgent or high value for its weight, air freight can be worth the premium, and Platton can compare both for your shipment.
Get an Ocean Freight Quote for Your Next Shipment
Talk to a Platton freight specialist about your regular lanes, volumes, and delivery requirements. We will map an ocean freight plan with confirmed rates, carrier options, and a customs workflow your operations team can rely on.