DHL supports Michigan’s talent pool and grows its local footprint to meet customs brokerage needs

DHL Global Forwarding expanded its Port Huron, Michigan Customs Processing Center’s space and increased its customer base and service portfolio

The Center has since secured 49 new local hires, with the potential for additional hires in the next year

MIAMI, FL - DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, announced the expansion of its Port Huron, Michigan Customs Processing Center in response to customers’ growing customs brokerage needs due to increased complexities in global trade and import compliance regulations. The expansion of the Center (which serves as a full-service customs brokerage facility and Hub for Northern Border Customs Brokerage services) enabled DHL to hire 49 local customs specialists, with the potential for more hires in the next year.

q"At DHL, we are always committed to finding more ways to offer our customers excellent, valuable and convenient services that are founded in local expertise of the highest standard,” said David Goldberg, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding U.S. “The Port Huron Customs Processing Center expansion further shows our dedication to customers seeking convenient customs solutions and consulting services as they navigate the ever-changing landscape of customs, tariffs and regulatory changes.”

The 49 hires are part of the Northern Border and International Automotive sector teams. The Northern Border team largely handles all aspects of the customs process for both Northern Border truck crossing and Automotive Sector-specific International Cargo clearances.

In 2018, the Port Huron Customs Processing Center handled more than half a million U.S. entries from a total of approximately 1.2 million processed in the U.S. Like the company’s two other major U.S. centers (located in Laredo, Texas and Columbia, South Carolina), the Port Huron Center relies on state-of-the-art technology and experienced customs brokers, while offering scalability and adaptability to customers’ needs.

DHL Global Forwarding U.S., as a whole, offers a complete suite of Customs Brokerage services to large multinational customers, including compliance, consulting, post-entry, Duty Drawback reconciliation and Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) services.

“As a global company, we understand that to deliver a consistently reliable service to our customers, we must incorporate the best talent at each of our locations—talent that understands the nuances and evolving facets of international trade,” said Alejandro Palacios, head of Customs Brokerage for DHL Global Forwarding, Americas. “Our expansion lets us continue doing exactly that. I am confident our current and future customers will benefit from the exceptional services and expertise our Port Huron team offers.”

As an added benefit to DHL Global Forwarding’s U.S. customers, last year, the company launched Customs Connection, a digital platform that serves as a one-stop shop for all customs processes. Customers can view and download their current and historical information and data, filter through commodities/origin and destination categories, generate reports, obtain invoice information and view a breakdown of their total brokerage costs.