The short answer
Use the Miami freight forwarder’s domestic receiving address for Pelham’s trucking quote, not the overseas destination. Confirm the receiver’s contact, reference and delivery requirements. Pelham moves the freight by truck from Los Angeles to the agreed receiver; the forwarder’s onward international arrangement is separate.
Who handles each part of the journey?
California freight bound for Latin America, the Caribbean or Europe often travels by truck to a forwarder in Miami or elsewhere in Florida. Knowing where the domestic trucking ends and the forwarder’s work begins avoids missed sailings, storage charges and misdirected cargo.
| Party | What to coordinate |
|---|---|
| Supplier / shipper | Packs the cargo, measures loaded dimensions and weight, and confirms pickup readiness in California |
| Pelham | The agreed domestic LTL or FTL trucking from Los Angeles to the forwarder’s Florida receiving facility, and any separately confirmed handling |
| Miami receiving company / forwarder | Receives the domestic delivery and its references and appointments, and arranges the ocean or air export and customs |
LTL services for freight forwarders mean shared domestic truck capacity in this context. Pelham does not provide international forwarding, rail transport, direct port service or customs clearance.
Ask the receiver these questions first
- Receiving address: what business name, street address, suite or door should appear on the trucking request?
- Hours and appointments: is an appointment needed, or does the dock receive during open hours? Who handles receiving, and how can they be contacted?
- References: which booking number, warehouse receipt or customer ID must appear on the bill of lading (BOL)?
- Onward deadline: what is the cargo cut-off for the planned vessel or flight?
- Receiving instructions: are specific pallet dimensions, labels, documents or unloading equipment required?
Example: a supplier delivering to a Miami forwarder
A Los Angeles supplier prepares 4 pallets that will eventually sail to Cartagena, Colombia.
Common mistake: entering “Cartagena, Colombia” as the delivery destination on the domestic freight request.
Correct approach: give the supplier’s Los Angeles pickup address as the origin and the Miami forwarder’s receiving address and ZIP code as the destination.
Coordinate the overseas destination, sailing and customs arrangements separately with the forwarder. A future international journey does not change the domestic delivery address.
How to handle an onward deadline
Missing an ocean or air cut-off can delay cargo by days or weeks. Share the target cut-off with Pelham before booking, so the team can recommend a service level, and ask the forwarder how changes affect its onward plan.
- Expedited LTL: estimated 3 calendar days from pickup, for South Florida only, from Homestead to West Palm Beach. Useful for tight export cut-offs.
- Regular LTL: estimated 7 calendar days from pickup to all Florida destinations.
- Economy LTL: estimated 10 calendar days from pickup to all Florida destinations, for flexible, non-urgent transfers.
None is guaranteed. A transit estimate does not confirm an overseas departure; see how to plan for freight logistics challenges and delays.
Check the handoff before pickup
- Reconcile pallet count, loaded height and dimensions, weight and goods with the quote.
- Make sure the forwarder’s booking or warehouse reference appears on the pallets and the BOL.
- Tell Pelham before dispatch if the receiver needs a liftgate, palletizing or transfer; these services are quoted with the shipment.
- Ask the forwarder whether it needs the proof of delivery: Pelham sends it when the delivery is complete.
- If the ready date, load or receiving arrangement changes, notify Pelham and the forwarder immediately.
Arrange the domestic leg
Review Los Angeles–Florida LTL service and request the domestic trucking quote. To estimate a pallet, read how much it costs to ship a pallet from California to Florida; for larger loads, compare LTL and FTL. For repeated shipments, the recurring freight guide helps structure the schedule.