Introducing Enhanced Customs Visibility: See What Customs Is Saying, When It Matters

For freight forwarders, customs clearance is one of the most opaque, and highest-risk, stages of the supply chain. Shipments sit in limbo while teams scramble to figure out what's happening: Is it held? Why? What do we need to do? The answers are buried across broker emails, carrier portals, and manual status checks.

Today, we're changing that with the Enhanced Customs Visibility Add-On.

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Direct Access to CBP Disposition Codes

OpenTrack is a CBP-approved software vendor, which means we can pull entry status disposition codes directly from US Customs and Border Protection. These codes tell you exactly where your shipment stands in the customs process: whether it's cleared, held for exam, pending documentation, or released.

We surface every disposition code that CBP reports. Whether it's a 1C confirming entry, a 3Z for ISF on file, or an exam hold, you see every detail that customs reports.

Instead of piecing together fragmented updates from multiple sources, you get a single source of truth for customs status across all your shipments.

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What's Included

The Enhanced Customs Visibility Add-On brings customs data into the same platform where you already track containers:

1. Customs Status Tab

A new dedicated tab in the shipment detail view displays all CBP disposition codes in chronological order. Each code is translated into plain language so your team knows exactly what it means and what action (if any) is required.

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2. Customs Webhooks via API

Receive real-time customs status updates pushed directly to your systems. Build automations, trigger alerts, or sync data with your TMS without manual polling.

3. Holds and Exceptions

When a shipment is held, OpenTrack surfaces the hold type and reason so you can act fast. No more calling brokers to find out why cargo is stuck. Customs exceptions appear alongside other shipment alerts in your dashboard and API.

4. Unlimited ISF Filing

As part of the add-on, you can file Importer Security Filings (ISF) directly through OpenTrack. Submit ISF data via PDF, Excel, or API, and we can map your existing forms so there's no change to your current workflow. You receive status updates as CBP processes each submission. ISF filing is free during the pilot phase.

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Why It Matters

Customs issues don't just cause delays. They cascade. A held shipment means missed DC appointments, demurrage charges, expedited freight costs, and frustrated customers. The faster you know what's happening, the faster you can resolve it.

With Enhanced Customs Visibility, you can:

• Stop refreshing portals. Customs status comes to you automatically.
• Reduce broker back-and-forth. Get the answers without making calls.
• Catch holds early. Know the moment a shipment is flagged.
• Keep customers informed. Proactively communicate delays before they escalate.
• Streamline ISF compliance. File directly from OpenTrack and track status in one place.

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How Teams Are Using It

Eliminating manual queries. Customs brokers today often have to manually query each house bill throughout its journey, checking in at random intervals to see if anything is amiss. With Enhanced Customs Visibility, that data comes to you automatically in one place, so you're not hunting through portals.

Tracking the codes that matter. Experienced customs teams know the disposition codes that signal progress or problems: 3Z confirms ISF is on file, 1C means the entry is posted, and codes like 54 and 55 indicate everything is proceeding normally. OpenTrack surfaces these codes as they happen, so your team can focus on exceptions instead of routine checks.

Catching filing errors before they cause delays. When quantity on a customs entry doesn't match what's on the manifest, it can trigger holds and slow everything down. By comparing data across disposition events, teams can spot discrepancies early and fix them before they become problems.

Automating release confirmation. Right now, confirming that customs has cleared a shipment often requires manual verification: checking that the right codes are present, that quantities match, and that nothing is flagged. With this data flowing into your systems via API, you can build logic that reads the feed and confirms release automatically, no manual steps required.

Staying ahead of cargo rolls. When cargo rolls at origin, ISF compliance can get complicated. ISF-10 filings require the vessel name, so a roll means you need to refile. ISF-5 filings don't require the vessel name, but a changed departure date shifts your filing window and may require you to reprioritize. OpenTrack detects roll events and can trigger alerts or automated refiling so you stay compliant without manual tracking.

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Getting Started

The Enhanced Customs Visibility Add-On is available now. Interested in adding customs visibility to your OpenTrack account? Reach out to your account manager to learn more.