Where Shipments Stall After Customs Release — and How to Keep It Moving

You’ve booked the carrier. Your customer has the delivery window. The freight is released and ready to move. And yet—a driver arrives without the right chassis, the consignee isn’t ready, or an appointment gets missed. A three-day move stretches to five.

After thousands of inland moves, we’ve learned the delays that hurt most happen in the first 24–48 hours after customs release—when confirmation gives way to assumption. The difference often comes down to one habit: verify details before dispatch—most delays are preventable.

The Real Cause of Missed Delivery Windows

Delays don’t happen because someone missed a call — they happen because responsibilities overlap. Freight forwarders, brokers, and carriers often share the same schedule, but not the same visibility. When no single point of contact owns the inland leg, confirmations fall through the cracks.

The fix isn’t more follow-ups—it’s structure: verify appointments, equipment, and delivery readiness before dispatch so accountability is clear.

What Proactive Coordination Looks Like

There’s a difference between dispatching freight and coordinating it.

Dispatching is transactional: assign a truck, send the paperwork, wait for confirmation.

Coordination is anticipatory—it starts before the first mile moves.

Here’s what proactive coordination looks like in practice:

• Confirm before dispatch. Double-check receiving hours, appointment windows, and consignee contacts before assigning a driver.

• Match equipment to the freight. Verify chassis, permits, and specialty equipment in advance—especially for overweight or OOG.

• Build flexibility into long hauls. Stage alternates for weather, congestion, or HOS limits.

• Monitor proactively. Track in real time and escalate early.

The result: predictable delivery windows, fewer detention and demurrage charges, and no update-chasing.

When Coordination Breaks Down

Even the best plans can fall apart. A container clears Thursday, pickup is set for Friday, delivery’s expected Monday—and by Tuesday morning, it’s still at the terminal.

When that happens, a proactive inland team moves fast: confirm the container’s status, check for new holds, identify what went wrong, communicate facts and next steps immediately, and secure alternate equipment or backup capacity to recover the load.

In practice, recovery usually follows the same pattern:

• Confirm status and check for new holds

• Communicate facts and next steps

• Re-dispatch with backup capacity

• Document everything for demurrage protection

Once it’s moving, review why: unverified appointment, wrong chassis, or a communication miss. Each points to a fixable gap. Close the gaps with discipline: verify before dispatch, check status within 24 hours of release, keep recovery carriers ready, and document what breaks. When coordination becomes routine instead of reactive, Tuesday scrambles become rare.

Closing the Coordination Gap

At Accurate Logistics Group, we ensure your freight is safely transported and delivered on time by coordinating every detail before problems develop.

We verify appointments, match equipment, and monitor shipments through our TMS from release to delivery. Our vetted national carrier network and coverage across major markets mean you get consistent execution whether you're moving one urgent container or managing regular lane volumes. And when plans need to shift, we have the reach and backup capacity to keep freight moving.

The inland leg shouldn't be where coordination falls apart.

Need help with your next inland move? Email sales@accuratelogi.com with your lane—we'll send timing, pricing, and a clear delivery plan.