Welcome

NCBFAASA is a not-for-profit association formed from the prestigious National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America.

Using the combined leverage of our members, we have developed ocean contracts and value added services to all major global trade lanes with a wide range of carriers.

NCBFAASA provides members and their agents, contracts and bullet rates on-line through our members only secure web site powered by CargoSphere.

WHAT IS THE NCBFAASA?
The NCBFAASA is a not-for-profit shippers’ association formed to benefit members of the National Customs Brokers Forwarders Association of America, Inc. By combining our member’s requirements, we provide contracts and services that significantly lower our members costs and improve their net revenue.


WHAT ARE THE COSTS TO JOIN NCBFAASA?
Good news! New members can test drive the association for only $100 for the first year. The by-laws provide that each continuing member pay an annual assessment of $250 (10 or fewer employees) or $400 (11 or more employees). The payment must accompany the application, to be considered for membership. The member is also assessed a fee per twenty foot equivalent unit (TEU) shipped on association contracts.

AM I REQUIRED TO USE YOUR CARRIERS?
NO! Unless you have committed to a specific NCBFAASA contract, being a member does not obligate you to ship with carriers with whom the association has a negotiated rate agreement. You are free to use other services for your shipping needs or negotiate directly with the carriers. NCBFAASA provides you greater access to all major carriers than is available through your own individual carrier contracts.

HOW MANY CONTAINERS MUST WE COMMIT?
While NCBFAASA does not expect you to commit 100%25 of your volume, we urge you to commit a realistic container volume.

WILL MEMBERS SEE MY SHIPPING INFORMATION?
NO! Individual shipping information is kept in strict confidence. Anti-trust laws prohibit NCBFAASA from disclosing individual members information and prohibits members from engaging in collective rate making or discussions. Contract negotiations are conducted by association management. The association management employees cannot be a representative or employee of any individual member.

HOW DOES CARRIER SELECTION WORK?
NCBFAASA provides contracts that offer varying degrees of service levels. You select the carrier that best fits your shipping needs. We believe it is important to have a good mix of carriers from which to select. We also understand that not all shipment s demand premium service levels. Niche carriers allow our members to reduce costs on less critical shipments.

HOW CAN WE JOIN NCBFAASA?
Joining NCBFAASA is simple! To become a member of NCBFAASA, you must first be a member of the NCBFAA. To participate in freight programs, you must be an NVOCC with an FMC bond and current OTI license number. You may get a membership application by clicking HERE. Upon transmitting your application, membership dues check, and after approval from NCBFAASA’s Board of Directors, you will become an active member of the NCBFAASA.

CONTRACT TERMS AND RATES
Because of the need to maintain NCBFAASA'S confidentiality obligations to the ocean carriers, NCBFAASA is not able to provide you with the entire service contract for your files. Instead, you will be provided with separate Excel rate sheets for each contract. These rate sheets include port pairs, rates, outport arbitraries, accessorial charges, and any other rate terms that are relevant for members to conduct business. Additionally we can provide online contract management through our confidential web site.

CONTRACT NUMBERS
There is a separate contract number which NCBFAASA provides on the rate sheet to each of your contracts or the secure web site. Instruct your agents to put the contract number on the ocean bill of lading (OBL). The contract number must appear on the OBL for you to receive the NCBFAASA program rate.

INFORMATION FLOW
NCBFAASA provides the membership with timely and accurate information regarding the ocean program through e-mails and our website. This includes rate and service information, any new carrier added to the ocean program, and any changes to current carrier contracts. NCBFAASA communicates the frequent rate changes via "NCBFAASA Contract Updates".

CONTAINER REPORTING
The Association requires that members designate NCBFAASA as an "also notify party" on all bills of lading for cargo shipped under NCBFAASA Contracts. Members are required to provide NCBFAASA with copies of any OBL’s that shipped under Association contracts on a monthly basis.

SOURCE OF INFORMATION
NCBFAASA is utilized as a primary source of information. In fact, many members view the Association as an extension of their NVOCC operation. NCBFAASA is frequently required to act as liaison between the member and carrier, resolve OBL issues, facilitate release of containers, expedite contract amendments, and provide special domestic contacts and pricing for sensitive cargo. These are just a few of the ways NCBFAASA is assisting our membership.

BILLING FOR OCEAN FREIGHT
NCBFAASA does not bill you for ocean freight charges! The carrier bills you directly for any charges relating to the movement of your ocean freight cargo. In order to receive the NCBFAASA contract rate, the contract number must appear on the ocean bill of lading.

BILLING ASSOCIATION FEES
NCBFAASA does bill you for Association per container fees. The container fee will be charged on each TEU a member ships under the NCBFAASA contract and is billed on a monthly basis. The amount of container fee is based on the number of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU’s) a member commits in total to the Association. Every effort is made by NCBFAASA to provide detailed billing information that enables members to easily reconcile invoices.

DISCOUNTED FULL CONTAINER OCEAN FREIGHT RATES
Using the combined leverage of the members, NCBFAASA is able to offer multiple contracts and freight discounts. While our strength is in the export market, our various contracts provide members coverage to and from the United State in every major trade lane.



DISCOUNTED LESS THAN CONTAINER LOAD FREIGHT RATES
Through our partner CaroTrans International, members are saving on average 10%25 on import and export LCL shipments. CaroTrans has an extensive network of CFS receiving stations throughout the country. Not only do members benefit from overall reductions in transportation costs, but improved transit time and the immediate availability of local professional staff.

DISCOUNTED LESS THAN TRUCKLOAD FREIGHT RATES
NCBFAASA has negotiated fixed discounts with Landstar Logistics for members moving LTL cargo. Rating has been simplified into two classes, thereby mitigating the potential to mis-rate cargo. LTL quotes are easily obtained in seconds via the internet by entering two zip codes and the weight of the shipment.

ON-LINE SERVICES
NCBFAASA has invested in an extensive contract management and rate negotiation system, "CargoSphere". The system provides members with an innovative method to search carrier contract rates and request special bullet rates when competitive situations exist.

FAR EAST CO-LOAD PROGRAM
NCBFAASA and EAS Worldwide Logistics Hong Kong work simultaneously to offer competitive FCL co-load rates on cargo from Asia to the United States. Having a partner with headquarter in China provides NCBFAASA members with another great advantage over their competitors.

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INFORMATION SUPPORT
The Association acts as a liaison between the member and all program contacts. Problems or member concerns are elevated to the highest level within the service provider’s company. Members are provided with frequent updates regarding carrier services and market intelligence that might impact their operations.

GET YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Fill out and fax or email back to us a MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. Thank you for your interest in your not-for-profit industry association!

This is our members on-line proprietary contract management and expedited “bullet rate” site developed by the NCBFAASA and CargoSphere. You and your agents can make quick decisions on pending business. To go to CargoSphere, Click on the blue word CARGOSPHERE. If you do not have a user name and password, you will not be able to enter the site.