Exporting goods into Mexico requires planning and time. It is nothing like crossing an
interstate border, when the only indication you have that you have crossed the border is a
welcome sign. Instead you may encounter security fencing, armed guards, drug sniffing
dogs, and no frills officers asking you questions. That is just driving across, there is a
whole other series of obstacles to conquer to bring products/raw materials into Mexico.
But Frazier Industries accomplishes this task quite often. Lou Mancusco (Job Title) or
Frazier Industries gave our group a firsthand perspective of the procedure and challenges
involved in moving product into Mexico. Frazier typically transports industrial materials
into Mexico, i.e. Structural Steel Pallet rack systems, and support materials. Frazier does
not handle the move across the border. They hire a Customs Broker, this person specialized
in moving products across the border. When Frazier has a shipment of materials heading to
Mexico they contact their freight broker and make the broker aware that a shipment is
coming. This way the broker can plan accordingly so that way the shipment does not get
lost and placed in a general warehouse, delaying shipments for weeks at a time. The
product is shipped straight to the customs broker’s warehouse on the U.S. side of the
border. (A company does business with individual brokers that they hire, this builds
relationships that help speed up processes and inconsistencies.) Once the product has
arrived the broker will process the export form known as the “Pedimento”. This form
contains all the information about the shipment, description, count of contents, price, etc..
