Here are some reference of full container shipment with arrival notice Invoice from your import freight forwarder: that could be compare with your arrival notice. (also, to compare your freight released, ( LCL sea arrival notice, full container sea arrival notice and air way bill/ABW  (20ft container approximately 26-28 CBM / 40ft container approximately 55-58 CBM / 40ft HQ container approximately 60-68 CBM / 45ft HQ container approximately 78 CBM )

1. 20 feet = $2. 635 (Miami FL) / 20 feet = about $1300 (Los Angeles ca) / 40/40hq/45 feet = about $1900 (Los Angeles ca)
2. 40 feet = documentation $55 (original Bill of Lading / OBL)
3. 40 feet HQ= handling and process fee $75, port security fee $50 and doc fee $25 (original Bill of Lading / OBL)
4. 40 feet HQ = handling and process fee $65 (original Bill of Lading / OBL)
5. 40 feet HQ with " CY/RAMP "

Trucking (20 feet container) from long beach terminal to Irvine, CA. During/after port strikes, port was very congestion. This fee is separate from carrier congestion fee and port congestion fee.

6. $200 Chassis Rental
7. $90 Container Diem
8. $2700 / 40 feet Container from Bangladesh to Los Angeles.
9. IF you shipment 15 CBM to 26 CBM, it may be cheaper and more convent to use 20 feet container. 20 feet container is about $1300-$1600 from China to LA/Long Beach CA
   Page 1 and 2: Customer paid supplier $1,810 (to issuer of Bill-of-Lading)  and paid $1,225.74 (to issuer of Arrival Notice) for 25.32 CBM + $628 Warehouse = $3,663.74 (import as LCL) Page 3 and 4: Customer paid supplier $1,300 (to issuer of Bill-of-Lading)  and paid $55 to forwarder agent (to issuer of Arrival Notice)  = $1355 (import as 20 feet container)

• Most are "Union" Labors for page 1 and 2.   (Feb 2015)
• LCL = someone unload from Vessel  and  has to truck the container to CFS warehouse (1-3 hours) and separate each importer shipment (4-8 hours)
• Average Union Labor in US Port:  full-time wages of $147,000 per year.    +  $88,800 per year Pension,”

To understand why/who importer must pay, before/after/during shipping, importer must review incoterms and contact issuer of Bill of Lading / arrival notice LCL / full. Incoterms published by international chamber of commerce and recognized by united nations commission on international trade law as global common terms.

1. Us freight forwarder issues arrival notice/( LCL /full), six or seven days before importer shipment is in us. (arrival notice glossary)
2. Arrival notice/( LCL /full) is us freight forwarder (unload from vessel and moving it to warehouse) is reflection of Bill of Lading (instruction/permit to load onto vessel)
3. Arrival notice/( LCL /full) is us freight forwarder terms-of- Bill of Lading , agreement, including the date of transfer, timing of payment, title to your shipment and other provisions.
4. All shipment are pre-arrange by issuer (importer/supplier/factory/mover-shipper) of Bill of Lading (aka / ie: bill-of-sale / shipping terms (loader terms), before the shipping.
5. Most of pre-arrangement are CIF terms = are done with-out paying all vendor, such as arrival notice ( LCL /full), warehouse/port, ISF filing, customs clearing, exam and etc.
6. After you have pay your arrival notice / Invoice (sea LCL /full/ AWB ) to your us freight forwarder, they will be email a freight released (turnover / freight-release / Carrier-released / released-order / steam-ship-release) to you, your warehouse, port, trucker, customs broker and etc.

Why can't supplier / factory / shipper / shipping-company arrange us domestic trucking, ISF filing and customs entry.

1. Most of foreign supplier / shipper (issuer of Bill of Lading ) vary limited contact with domestic trucker and customs broker
2. Your supplier in business of MFG and your shipping-company in business of shipping, they are not in business of knowing US customs rule and regulations, we are.

Note:

1. To arrange sea shipping, arranger must be your supplier or licenses by Federal Maritime Commission ( NVOCC / OFF / OTI) = issuer of Bill of Lading / LCL arrival notice / full arrival notice.
2. To arrange air shipping, arranger must be your supplier or licenses by international air transport association ( IATA ) = issuer of Bill of Lading / air-way-bill ( AWB )
3. To arrange domestic trucking, arranger must be licenses by FMCSA (mc# / dot#) / must have "filer-code" from US customs = issuer of pick-up- Bill of Lading .
4. To file ISF and customs entry (customs agent / customs broker), filer must have "filer-code" from U.S. customs = issuer of customs release documents.

If you think, it's not cost-effective to pay all the fees (duty/tax, forwarder, trucker, warehouse, ISF filing, customs entry filing, exam and etc. ) you could abandon your shipment. There are three choices, shipment that was refused by US customs/agencies. Sample of abandon letter

1. Re-exporting back to vendor / exporting to other-country:

1. To export, your must contact your freight forwarder, company that has done your transportation to us port. .
2. Your current freight forwarder will be helping you with 7512 (ie / immediate exportation) form.
3. Local US customs officer must sign and if any, agencies officer must sign a 7512 (ie / immediate exportation) form.
4. Local = city, county, state that you are in.
5. Who is liable: case file: federal court U.S. attorney's.

2. Abandon your shipment. Please notify your supplier/us forwarder/carrier and warehouse and us by email only.

1. For abandoning, you may be penalize / fines / demurrage / per-diem / destroy / trash / add-dpl and etc.
2. Examples of other shipment that was abandon, refused by U.S. customs/agencies and was not cost-effective.
3. Who is liable: case file: federal court U.S. attorney's.

3. Destroy / trash email customs officer, warehouse and us by email only.

1. If shipment is import with-out permit / permission hazard, patent, trademark and etc.
2. You may be penalize / fines / demurrage / per-diem / destroy / trash / add-dpl and etc.
3. Who is liable: case file: federal court U.S. attorney's.

Full Container:

1. Negotiate with your vendors/supplier/factory/shipping-co. Before the shipping: check shipping terms here.
2. Most of your shipping term could be view at your Bill of Lading from your supplier/factory/shipping-company.
3. Arrival notice for full container = unloading from the vessel,
4. Most of arrival notice from your freight forwarder (shipping-company) has no no no consistency of fees.
5. To file complaint against your freight forwarder (shipping company).

Email FROM Carrier / Vessel / Ship-Owner: (Nov 14 2014)
Subject: Implementation of Port Congestion Charge.
Dear Valued Customers,
As you know well, there is ongoing port congestion along the major US west coast ports. The situation has impacted terminal and vessel operations to the point where normal
business is simply not possible to continue, and extraordinary costs are being incurred at every step of cargo movement.
Without foreseeable relief in sight, the carriers will charge a Port Congestion Charge for all cargoes discharged at US West Coast ports and Canadian Ports on or after Nov. 17,
2014. The quantum of charge is listed hereunder,

Size    Type Level      (USD)
20'       (all types)       $800
40'       (all types)       $1000
45'       (all types)       $1266
53'       (all types)       $1600

20ft container approximately 26-28 CBM
40ft container approximately 55-58 CBM
40ft HQ container approximately 60-68 CBM
45ft HQ container approximately 78 CBM

Above fee are from Mo Hawk Global
Google  yourself  an  Implementation of Port Congestion Charge   (aka Congestion Surcharge Destination / CGD) and  see what vessel company are trying to charge you.