Documented Results | Tres Rios Expediting Corp

78%

Combined Tariff +
Freight Reduction

Heavy-lift project cargo · China → GA

$2.8M

Total Savings
Single Project

2 power transformers · Door to site

$542K

Duty Recovery
Identified

Aluminum importer · EU origin · ~40 entries

$10.9M

Combined Annual
Savings Documented

CPG importer · Logistics + COGS · Audited

ENGAGEMENT 01 Heavy-Lift Power Infrastructure China → U.S. East Coast OOG / Breakbulk HTS 8504.23

78% Combined Reduction.
$2,800,000 Saved.

A domestic power infrastructure company needed to import two large power transformers from China. The combined tariff exposure, ocean freight cost, and inland logistics had been quoted at over $3.6M total delivered. We rebuilt the entire cost structure — tariff treatment, ocean routing, rail clearance, and site delivery — under one licensed roof.

78%

Combined tariff + freight reduction

$2,800,000

Total documented savings — delivered to site

External broker fees — in-house CBP on every entry

What We Found

Tariff rate as quoted (MFN + Section 301 + IEEPA stacked)

~56%

Tariff rate after ADD/CVD scope confirmation + structure

~12%

Ocean freight — original quote (3PL via standard booking)

$287,000

Ocean freight — via BBC Chartering under FMC NVOCC license

$118,000

Inland routing — CSX rail clearance study (13.4' H × 11.1' W)

Completed

Total delivered cost — original projection

$3,600,000

Total delivered cost — actual (vessel → rail → site)

$800,000

How We Did It

ADD/CVD Scope Confirmation: Confirmed the specific transformers fell outside active antidumping order scope — eliminating the ADD/CVD overlay entirely. This alone dropped the effective tariff rate from ~56% to ~12%.

BBC Chartering Direct Booking: Used our FMC NVOCC license to book directly on BBC Chartering's heavy-lift liner service — Taicang load, Singapore transship, Charleston discharge. Eliminated 3PL markup entirely.

CSX Rail Coordination: Managed the inland dimensional clearance study for rail routing to the final site in Dalton, GA — height and width analysis, special handling authorization.

In-House Customs Entry: All CBP entry preparation handled by our licensed CBP broker — no external brokerage fees on a high-value, high-complexity entry.

§1401a Valuation Review: Dutiable value reviewed and structured to exclude non-dutiable cost components prior to entry — applied the correct entered value from day one.

ENGAGEMENT 02 Import Compliance Restructuring EU → U.S. Aluminum Structural Products HTS 7610.10.0010

$41,507 Confirmed.
$542,000 Estimated Recovery.

An aluminum structural products importer had worked with the same customs broker for years. Nobody had ever audited the entries. We reviewed approximately 40 entries spanning two-plus years and found systematic filing errors across the portfolio — wrong HTS application, failure to deduct origin freight on CIF terms, and misapplied duty rate overlays. The prior broker didn't know. The client didn't know. CBP wasn't going to tell them.

~40

Entries reviewed across full portfolio

$41,507

Confirmed overcharges — initial entries only

$542,000

Estimated full portfolio recovery at 35% contingency

What the Audit Found

HTS classification accuracy — prior broker

Incorrect

Origin freight deducted from CIF-priced entries

Not deducted

Confirmed overcharges — first two entries

$41,507

Estimated full portfolio recovery (35% contingency)

$542,000

Protest window — CBP 19 U.S.C. §1514

180 days

Forward valuation program established

In place

Entered value reduction going forward

15–25%

What We Did About It

Full Portfolio Audit: Pulled all CBP Form 7501s, matched against commercial invoices, and ran a systematic review of HTS classification, declared value, duty rate application, and ADD/CVD screening for every entry.

Confirmed Error Documentation: Built a formal tariff analysis report documenting confirmed billing errors on the initial entries — $41,507 in overcharges, supported by CBP entry data and certified invoices.

CBP Protest Strategy: Developed IEEPA protest strategy across the full portfolio. Entries within the 180-day liquidation window were identified and protest packages prepared under 19 U.S.C. §1514.

Forward Restructuring: Implemented a formal §1401a Import Compliance Program — correct HTS, CIF freight strip on all future entries, buying commission carve-out documentation, and in-house CBP brokerage from day one.

Contingency Engagement: Fee structure tied to documented recovery — the client pays nothing until CBP returns money. Ongoing savings flow under the valuation program with quarterly true-up.

ENGAGEMENT 03 Full-Stack Logistics Program India + Asia → U.S. Organic CPG / Food 600 Containers/Year

$10,869,871 Combined.
19.9% EBITDA Under 64% Tariffs.

An organic food importer running 600 containers per year had been operating through a third-party logistics provider. We replaced the entire infrastructure — NVOCC ocean freight, in-house CBP brokerage, drayage, warehousing, and delivery to retail — and added a formal §1401a valuation program. The result was a structural cost advantage that held even when tariffs hit 64% and every competitor in the category went negative on margin.

$8,566,200

Annual logistics savings — audited, conservative

19.9%

EBITDA margin maintained under 64% tariff stress

99.7%

Tariff break-even vs. ~55% industry average

Savings by Category

Ocean Freight (Jeff-attributable · Buckets 1+3 · 600 ctnrs)

$2,942,400/yr

Per-container rate: prior provider → current NVOCC

$14,021 → $2,617

Customs & Documentation (in-house CBP — all fees eliminated)

$186,000/yr

Drayage & Port (port trucking + container unloading)

$945,000/yr

Warehouse & Palletizing (PSS/WTE negotiated rates)

$955,800/yr

Delivery to Retail Network (direct relationship)

$3,120,000/yr

TOTAL ANNUAL LOGISTICS SAVINGS

$8,566,200

Combined (Logistics + Pricing/COGS)

$10,869,871

The Structural Moat Built

NVOCC Direct Contracts: Replaced 3PL ocean freight with direct FMC NVOCC carrier relationships — eliminating the 3PL markup layer entirely. $14,021/container became $2,617. No change in service, vessel, or routing.

In-House CBP Brokerage: All customs entries filed by our licensed CBP broker — $0 external brokerage cost on 600+ entries per year. ISF 10+2, FDA Prior Notice, formal entry — all handled internally.

§1401a Valuation Program: Formal Import Compliance Program established across all SKUs — 188 active SKUs reviewed, non-dutiable costs identified and stripped from entered value. Tariff break-even pushed to 99.7% vs. industry ~55%.

Logistics Renegotiation: Drayage, warehouse, palletizing, and retail delivery rates all renegotiated via NVOCC carrier relationships and direct warehouse partnerships. Corner boards, slip sheets, and A3K margin eliminated entirely.

Tariff Stress Test — Survived 64%: When China tariffs reached 64% in 2025, the industry went negative. This operation maintained $6.04M EBITDA at 19.9% margin — because the structural cost advantage absorbed the shock that killed competitors.

How We Get Paid

Aligned Incentives. No Upfront Cost.

Every engagement structure is contingency-based where possible. We only win when you save. The split depends on the program type and whether a third-party beneficiary is designated.

Standard Tariff Optimization (§1401a)

For importers seeking duty reduction through valuation restructuring, First Sale Rule, and CBP protest recovery. No upfront fee. Paid on documented, liquidated savings quarterly.

75%

Client Keeps

25%

Tres Rios Fee

+ $1,000/container setup fee · Paid on liquidated entries · Quarterly true-up against CBP records

Full-Stack Logistics Program

NVOCC ocean freight + in-house CBP brokerage + §1401a valuation. The freight margin replaces the 3PL markup — client sees a net lower all-in cost from day one.

100%

All Logistics Savings

Ocean Margin

+ 25% Duty Savings

No setup fee · NVOCC margin replaces 3PL markup — client net cost goes down immediately

Three-Party Institutional Model

Client designates a nonprofit, university athletic program, or institutional beneficiary. A portion of savings flows directly to that organization — weekly, from freight margin. Client still keeps the majority. No extra cost.

50%

Client Keeps

35%

Designated Partner

15%

Advisory Fee

No upfront fee · No supplier changes · Net positive from shipment one · Partner receives weekly deposits

CBP Protest / Duty Recovery Only

For importers who've been working with another broker and want to recover overpaid duties on historical entries without changing their current program. We find it, document it, file it.

75%

Client Receives

25%

Contingency Fee

No fee if no recovery · 180-day lookback from liquidation · Full protest prep included

Your Program Is Next.

Every engagement starts with a free audit. We pull your entries, run the numbers, and tell you exactly what's there — before you commit to anything. If there's nothing to recover, we tell you that too.

Get a Free Entry Audit Run the Numbers First →

The Work SpeaksFor Itself

78% Combined Reduction.$2,800,000 Saved.