What Cargocentric does

Cargocentric is a U.S.-licensed customs broker and international freight forwarder headquartered in South San Francisco, California, that arranges the door-to-door movement of imported cargo via air, sea, and ground transportation. The company has operated for more than 30 years under C-TPAT and OTI/NVOCC regulatory certifications, and serves what it describes as "thousands of companies" importing goods into the United States, with named customers spanning healthcare (Compass Health), consumer products (Zoli), and photography equipment (ThinkTankPhoto). Its service portfolio spans Air Freight, Sea Freight, Customs Clearance, Warehouse and Fulfillment, and a Real-Time Visibility Platform that provides web-based shipment tracking and instant notifications. Adjacent offerings include cargo insurance underwritten by Navigators Insurance Company and customs bonds priced at $400 annually, below the typical $500-$600 industry benchmark.

The company's underlying technology is a cloud-based logistics management platform with a web dashboard supporting real-time carrier tracing, SKU-level and shipment-level visibility, and remote customs entry filing at any U.S. port. Cargocentric does not expose public APIs, SDKs, or documented integrations, and its technology differentiation rests on operational interoperability and domain specialization rather than on proprietary AI/ML or data assets. Its revenue mechanics combine transaction fees on freight forwarding, professional services fees on customs brokerage and consulting, transaction-based pricing on bonds and insurance, and managed-services revenue from warehouse and fulfillment operations. Most services are quote-based rather than publicly priced, with only customs bond pricing explicitly disclosed.

The go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, anchored by free initial import consultations and a self-service website sign-up flow paired with educational content marketing across a Shipping 101 and Customs blog. Distribution is primarily direct to importers, with physical operations anchored at Oakland (SSA/ETS terminals and a warehouse) and remote service capability across all U.S. ports. Cargocentric operates as an independently held private company with no disclosed institutional investment, parent entity, or subsidiary structure, and the leadership team is not publicly enumerated beyond a President (Jimmy Ting) noted in supplementary data.

Name

Cargocentric

Legal name

Cargocentric Inc.

Website

https://cargocentric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cargocentric is a U.S.-licensed customs broker and freight forwarder in South San Francisco that arranges air, sea, and ground imports for thousands of U.S. importers, combining customs clearance, bonded warehousing, real-time shipment visibility, cargo insurance, and customs bond services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

High-Value & Secure Air Cargo (Valuables, Security Screening, Escort) (TLACAAAH), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Export/Import Documentation Preparation (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Shipper’s Letter of Instruction) (TLACAHAD), Cargo Insurance Placement & Policy Administration (All-Risk, ICC A/B/C) (TLACAHAG)

Keywords

• International freight forwarding
• Customs brokerage services
• Ocean and air freight
• Warehouse and fulfillment
• Cargo visibility platform

Headquarters

HQ city

South San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Arrangement of cargo movement via air, sea, and ground transportation with visibility and door-to-door delivery
2. Customs Brokerage: Customs entry filing, release of goods, and customs compliance services including HTS classification assistance and binding ruling requests
3. Customs Bonds: Sale of Continuous Transaction Bonds (annual bonds) for $400 and Single Entry Bonds at $3 per $1,000 value
4. Cargo Insurance: Shipper's Interest Coverage providing direct payment for physical loss or damage without requiring proof of carrier negligence
5. Warehouse and Fulfillment: Warehouse operations for receiving and shipping cargo, with small operations staff maintained during shelter-in-place
6. Import Consulting: Free import consultations to educate importers on freight forwarding and customs clearance processes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cargocentric is a licensed customs broker and freight forwarder that arranges door-to-door international cargo movement via air, sea, and ground for U.S. importers. Its offerings include customs entry filing, harmonized code classification, ISF (Importer Security Filing) support, bonded warehouse/fulfillment, annual and single-entry customs bonds, cargo insurance, and a web-based real-time visibility dashboard for tracking shipments and carrier tracing. The company serves thousands of importers seeking simplified, transparent international logistics with expert customs compliance included.

Product overview

Cargocentric is a logistics management platform offering a comprehensive suite of international freight forwarding and customs brokerage services. The core portfolio includes Air Freight, Sea Freight, Customs Clearance, and Warehouse & Fulfillment services, unified by a Real-Time Visibility Platform that provides web-based shipment tracking and notifications. Additional offerings include Annual Customs Bonds (Continuous Transaction Bonds) and Cargo Insurance. The platform is designed for importers seeking simplified, transparent international logistics with door-to-door capabilities across air, sea, and ground transportation modes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Freight Services International air freight forwarding services arranging door-to-door delivery for time-sensitive cargo shipments via air transportation, for U.S. importers.
• Sea Freight Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Duty deferment up to 57 days via Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS) program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Trade Attorneys NetworkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCargocentric maintains relationships with experienced trade attorneys for referral to customers needing assistance with binding ruling requests or complex tariff situations. Attorneys assist with HTS classification disputes and exclusion applications.
• Ocean CarrierscoreOthersPartnerships with ocean carriers for freight forwarding services. Carriers provide vessel space and equipment (containers) while Cargocentric arranges bookings as an OTI/NVOCC. Limited carrier liability of $0.50/lb governs claims.
• Air CarrierscoreOthersPartnerships with airlines for air freight services. Following COVID-19, many carriers (United, American, Delta) suspended service to China while some maintained Hong Kong flights. Air carriers limit liability per Warsaw Convention.
• Navigators Insurance CompanycoreOthersCargo insurance underwritten by Navigators Insurance Company and serviced by Cargocentric. Provides All Risk Shipper's Interest Coverage with direct payment without requiring proof of carrier negligence.
• CFS WarehousescoreOthersContainer Freight Station warehouses (bonded facilities) for temporary storage of goods entering and leaving the country, serving important roles in both air and ocean freight operations.
• Freight ForwarderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCargocentric acts as a freight forwarder and designates authorized agents (carriers or brokers) to file ISF on importers' behalf via AMS or ABI systems under signed Power of Attorney.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)coreOthersRegulatory relationship as licensed customs broker for filing entries, securing export licenses, and dealing with government agencies. Company acts as agent for entry and release of goods.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Flexport: Digital-first international freight forwarder and customs broker offering air, ocean, and ground forwarding with a technology platform for visibility and documentation. Direct competitor to Cargocentric in U.S. import lanes, with significantly greater scale and capital.
• Freightos: Freight marketplace and digital forwarding platform serving global importers and exporters with air and ocean rates, booking, and visibility tools. Directly comparable in offering a tech-enabled alternative to traditional freight forwarders.

Broad incumbents

• Expeditors International: Large global logistics company providing air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and supply chain solutions. Overlaps with Cargocentric across all core service lines but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• C.H. Robinson: One of the largest North American 3PLs and freight brokers with global forwarding capabilities, including customs services. A broad incumbent competitor across the same importer customer base.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global freight forwarding and logistics leader with strong air and ocean forwarding plus customs brokerage operations. Comparable to Cargocentric in customs and forwarding services but operating worldwide at enterprise scale.
• Livingston International: North American customs broker and trade compliance specialist offering entry filing, classification, and consulting. Directly comparable on customs brokerage, with deeper regulatory expertise and broader enterprise relationships.
• DHL Global Forwarding: World's largest air and ocean freight forwarder with full customs brokerage capabilities. Overlaps with Cargocentric across freight forwarding and customs, particularly for U.S. importers; competes as a full-service global incumbent.

Emerging players

• Easyship: Cloud-based shipping and freight forwarding platform for SMBs and mid-market e-commerce sellers, offering rate comparison, label printing, and customs support. Comparable digital forwarding competitor targeting smaller importers similar to Cargocentric's horizontal segmentation.
• ClearCustoms (formerly Customs Buddy): Digital customs broker and import compliance platform specializing in entry filing, HTS classification, and trade documentation. Closely comparable on the customs brokerage side of Cargocentric's offering, with a technology-first delivery model.
• Shippo: Shipping API and software platform that enables SMBs to access discounted carrier rates and print labels. Adjacent rather than direct — competes for the same small-importer wallet but does not provide customs brokerage or international freight forwarding depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cargocentric

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cargocentric