PCB
PCB is a privately held North American customs brokerage and freight management company that files 400,000+ entries annually for importers across more than 15 industry verticals, combining licensed brokerage services with proprietary PCB365 portal technology, trade advisory, and global freight forwarding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersSurrey, Canada
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
PCB firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PCB
- Legal name
- Todd Holdings Ltd.
- Website
- https://pcbglobaltrade.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- PCB is a privately held North American customs brokerage and freight management company that files 400,000+ entries annually for importers across more than 15 industry verticals, combining licensed brokerage services with proprietary PCB365 portal technology, trade advisory, and global freight forwarding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where PCB is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Surrey
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PCB business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Customs Brokerage Services: Core customs brokerage services for importing goods into Canada and the US, including entry filing, tariff classification, duty calculation, and customs compliance. Revenue is generated through service fees based on shipment complexity and volume.
- Freight Management Services: Freight forwarding and management services including air, ground, ocean shipping, perishables shipping, multi-modal project shipping, and vehicle shipping. Revenue generated through freight fees and carrier assistance charges.
- Trade Advisory Services: Intellectual consulting services including tariff optimization, duty drawback qualification, free trade agreement reviews, customs binding rulings, compliance audits, and tariff relief. Revenue from professional service fees.
- Specialized Import Services: Additional services including CARM management, ATA Carnet processing, provisional entry applications, CERS declaration filing, and ACE/ACH setup assistance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Customs Brokerage - Quote-based pricing |
| Professional services/ project-based | Multi-year contract | Trade Advisory Services - Hourly/Project Based |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Freight Management - Volume Based |
| Subscription | Monthly | ACH Services - Monthly Statement |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
PCB product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PCB is a North American customs brokerage and freight management firm that files more than 400,000 customs entries per year across US and Canadian operations, providing entry filing, tariff classification, duty calculation, and regulatory compliance for importers in sectors such as produce, aerospace, electronics, and heavy industry. It also operates multimodal freight forwarding (air, ground, ocean, perishables, vehicles), trade advisory services (duty drawback, FTA optimization, binding rulings, compliance audits), and government-portal management (CARM, ACE/ACH, CAPE refunds), all supported by the proprietary PCB365 client portal.
Product overview
PCB (Pacific Customs Brokers) operates as a comprehensive customs brokerage and global trade management company with four operating divisions: Pacific Customs Brokers Ltd. (Canada), Pacific Customs Brokers Inc. (USA), PCB Freight Management Ltd., and ABC Customs Brokers Ltd. The company provides end-to-end trade services including customs brokerage for imports/exports, freight management (air, ocean, ground), trade advisory services (tariff classification, duty drawback, FTA reviews), CARM management, ACH payment services, CAPE refund processing, and educational resources through its Learning Center. The PCB365 client portal serves as the primary technology interface for clients to manage shipments and access trade information. Services are designed for businesses importing into or exporting from Canada and the US, with specialized offerings for sectors including aerospace, electronics, produce, medical supplies, and automotive.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PCB365: A custom-built client portal for managing trade activity, shipment tracking, release status, e-bills, and document imaging.
- The Trading Post
- CAPE Refund Preparedness
Products and services
- US Customs Brokerage Customs brokerage services for goods imported into the United States, including entry filing, tariff classification, duty calculation, and CBP regulatory compliance, delivered via the ACE Portal and supported by the PCB365 client portal.
- Canadian Customs Brokerage Customs brokerage services for goods imported into or exported from Canada, including entry filing, tariff classification, duty calculation, CERS declaration filing, and CBSA compliance management.
- Freight Management (Air, Ground, Ocean, Perishables, Vehicle, Multi-Modal Project, Emergency) End-to-end freight forwarding service covering air, ground, ocean, perishables, vehicle, multi-modal project, and emergency freight shipments, leveraging memberships in Conqueror, IATA, FIATA, CIFFA, and WTC Alliance freight networks.
- Trade Advisory Services Professional consulting engagements covering tariff classification, duty drawback qualification, customs valuation, binding rulings, free trade agreement reviews, supply chain audits, and tariff relief/optimization for importers in Canada and the US.
- CARM Management Setup and ongoing management of importers' CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) portal accounts, supporting compliance with new financial security and duty-payment requirements for Canadian imports.
- ACH Services Setup, management, and ongoing use of the CBP Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) for direct US customs duty payments, refund distribution, and financial obligation tracking, eliminating disbursement fees charged when PCB pays duties on behalf of clients.
- CAPE Refund Services End-to-end refund recovery service for importers who overpaid IEEPA-related tariffs, including entry preparation, ACE portal submission, and compliance review under the CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) framework.
- PCB365 Client Portal Proprietary web-based client portal serving as a one-stop shop for shipment-specific release status, e-bills, document imaging, and trade news tailored to the client's imported goods, accessible 24/7.
- Importing Into Canada / Exporting From Canada Service packages guiding businesses through importing goods into Canada or exporting from Canada, including documentation, regulatory compliance, CERS filing, free trade agreement preferences, and freight coordination.
- Non-Resident Importing Import service tailored to non-resident businesses bringing goods into Canada, handling customs brokerage, CARM portal coordination, tax/duty obligations, and freight on the importer's behalf.
- E-commerce Solutions Customs and logistics solutions for e-commerce sellers importing parcels and goods into Canada, including de minimis handling, classification, and parcel clearance.
- Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) Solutions Trade compliance and logistics support for engineering, procurement, and construction projects, including provisional entry applications that can yield substantial duty deferrals for large-scale projects.
- Importing Vehicles and Machinery Specialized import service for vehicles and motorized equipment entering Canada, handling compliance, documentation, and applicable federal/provincial requirements.
- Exporting Personal Goods Service for individuals or businesses exporting personal goods from Canada, including documentation and CBSA export clearance.
- Perishables Shipping Time-sensitive shipping service for perishable goods (produce, food, floral), leveraging PCB Freight Management's cold-chain and produce-trade heritage.
- Emergency Freight Expedited emergency freight service for time-critical shipments when standard timelines cannot be met.
- Warehousing and Distribution Domestic warehousing and distribution services in Canada to support post-entry storage, fulfillment, and final-mile distribution for importers.
- Carrier Assistance / Carrier Services Customs and documentation assistance offered to carriers (trucking, ocean, air) handling cross-border moves, simplifying release and clearance on the carrier side.
Quantifiable outcome
- PCB has grown from 75 employees in 1999 to 275 employees today
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PCB
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PCB technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
PCB partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Conqueror Freight NetworkcorePCB Freight Management is a member of the Conqueror Freight Network, an international network of vetted freight forwarders providing global coverage and support for cross-border logistics operations.
- IATAcorePCB is an IATA-accredited agent, providing air freight forwarding services with standardized documentation and procedures compliant with international air transport requirements.
- FIATAcoreMembership in FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) provides access to global freight forwarding standards, documentation (FBL, FCR, FCT), and industry representation.
- CIFFAcoreMembership in Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association provides representation, training resources, and industry advocacy for Canadian freight forwarders.
- WTC AlliancecorePartnership with World Trade Center Alliance provides access to global trade centers and facilitates international business connections across multiple markets.
- Connecta by PancocorePartnership with Connecta network enables expanded coverage and support for logistics operations, particularly in European and international markets.
- CBP (US Customs and Border Protection)coreDirect integration and partnership with US CBP through ACE Portal, ACH, and various CBP programs for import processing, duty payments, and compliance management.
- CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency)corePartnership with CBSA for Canadian import clearance, CARM portal integration, and compliance with Canadian customs regulations.
- Canadian Chamber of CommerceminorIssuing body for ATA Carnets in Canada, enabling temporary export documentation for trade shows, professional equipment, and commercial samples.
- US Council for International BusinessminorIssuing body for ATA Carnets in the US, providing merchandise passport documentation for temporary imports across 80+ countries.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PCB competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kuehne+Nagel: Global freight forwarding and customs brokerage incumbent; competes with PCB on multinational client freight forwarding while operating at far larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- DHL Global Forwarding: World's largest air and ocean freight forwarder with customs clearance capabilities; competes for enterprise-level cross-border freight and customs work that overlaps with PCB's freight and brokerage services.
- Expeditors International: Global logistics provider with strong North American customs brokerage and freight forwarding capabilities, competing for enterprise cross-border flows that PCB also services.
- UPS Supply Chain Solutions (Customs Brokerage): UPS's customs brokerage and forwarding division competes with PCB for US import clearance and cross-border freight, leveraging an integrated parcel/forwarding platform.
- FedEx Trade Networks (FedEx Logistics): FedEx's brokerage and logistics arm offers customs clearance, trade advisory, and global forwarding services directly overlapping with PCB's core offerings, particularly for enterprise importers.
Direct peers
- Livingston International: One of North America's largest customs brokers and trade management specialists, with deep Canadian roots and a service portfolio (brokerage, trade advisory, freight forwarding) that overlaps almost line-for-line with PCB's offerings.
- Cole International: Canadian-headquartered customs broker and trade services firm serving Western Canada importers, with comparable brokerage, consulting, and freight forwarding services targeting similar produce and resource-sector clients.
- GHY International: Western Canada-based customs broker and freight forwarder offering entry processing, trade advisory, and logistics services directly competitive with PCB's Pacific-base operations.
- Farrow: Canadian customs broker and trade management firm with cross-border US-Canada focus and a comparable menu of brokerage, consulting, and freight services for mid-market and enterprise importers.
Emerging players
- Flexport: Technology-led digital freight forwarder offering customs brokerage, supply chain visibility, and trade compliance tooling — an emerging competitive threat to traditional brokers like PCB as the industry digitizes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PCB social profiles
Digital presencePCB financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PCB leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
PCB subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
PCB funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PCB M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PCB
What does PCB do?
PCB is a North American customs brokerage and freight management firm that files more than 400,000 customs entries per year across US and Canadian operations, providing entry filing, tariff classification, duty calculation, and regulatory compliance for importers in sectors such as produce, aerospace, electronics, and heavy industry. It also operates multimodal freight forwarding (air, ground, ocean, perishables, vehicles), trade advisory services (duty drawback, FTA optimization, binding rulings, compliance audits), and government-portal management (CARM, ACE/ACH, CAPE refunds), all supported by the proprietary PCB365 client portal.
Is PCB a public or private company?
PCB is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was PCB founded?
PCB was founded in 1954. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is PCB based?
PCB is headquartered in Surrey, Canada, in the North America region.
How does PCB make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Customs Brokerage Services are the primary driver. The others are freight Management Services, trade Advisory Services and specialized Import Services.
Who are PCB's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kuehne+Nagel, DHL Global Forwarding, Expeditors International, UPS Supply Chain Solutions (Customs Brokerage) and FedEx Trade Networks (FedEx Logistics). Direct peers are Livingston International, Cole International, GHY International and Farrow. Flexport is listed as an emerging player.
Does PCB have an API?
No public API is recorded for PCB.