Documentation Clerk – Import Customs Clearance; U.S. Ocean Freight

Documentation Clerk – Import Customs Clearance (U.S. Ocean Freight)

Skypace is the ocean freight division of Maxton Shipping Inc., a freight forwarder headquartered in California and represented worldwide. Skypace provides the world’s first BCO-facing shipping platform that connects our branches, vendors, and customers in the same tech environment.

The platform enables the full cycle of freight execution from instant quoting and planning to managing shipments with complete process visibility and is directly integrated with top‑10 ocean carriers like MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO, and Hapag‑Lloyd, operating across all major trade lanes.

Today, we support 150+ customers across 18 countries, handling significant freight volumes with speed, transparency, and support.

• Door-to-Door instant freight quotes for ocean, including pickup/delivery and freight
• One-click booking for CY/D‑CY/D modes
• DIY mode: shippers can independently quote, book, issue B/Ls, and track their port-to-port shipments while our logistics team remains available to support the entire process
• Included for free: full tracking of the shipment, exceptions, and charges for the proactive issues and customer communication

The Documentation Clerk – Import Customs Clearance is responsible for managing U.S. ocean import compliance documentation and coordinating customs clearance workflows to ensure timely cargo release. This role serves as the control point for pre‑arrival filings, document accuracy, and release readiness for inbound ocean freight shipments.

The position exists to reduce compliance risk, avoid cargo holds, and maintain predictable import execution across U.S. ports.

• U.S. Import Compliance and Filings
  • Prepare, validate, and submit Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2) in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements
  • Coordinate and validate Automated Manifest System (AMS) filings with carriers and NVOCCs
  • Monitor filing deadlines to prevent ISF and AMS penalties
• Documentation Coordination
  • Collect and review import documentation including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and arrival notices
  • Transmit complete and accurate document sets to assigned customs brokers
  • Verify consistency of shipment data across booking, documentation, ISF, and broker entry systems
• Customs Clearance and Release Control
  • Monitor customs clearance status and entry progress through broker communication
  • Track holds, exams, and documentation requests from CBP or partner agencies
  • Confirm cargo release and coordinate post‑release handoff to drayage and operations teams
• Milestone Monitoring and System Updates
  • Monitor import shipment milestones within the Skypace platform, including arrival, clearance, release and availability
  • Update shipment status and documentation checkpoints in real time
  • Flag risks related to late filings, documentation discrepancies or clearance delays
• Exception Management
  • Identify and resolve discrepancies in shipment data prior to arrival
  • Coordinate corrective actions for ISF amendments, document corrections, and post‑entry support
  • Escalate compliance or timing risks to operations and management when required

• Ocean import operations and account management teams
• U.S. customs brokers and regulatory authorities
• Ocean carriers and NVOCC partners
• Drayage providers and terminal operations teams
• Customers requiring status updates and document clarification

• Experience in U.S. ocean import documentation and customs clearance
• Working knowledge of ISF, AMS and CBP import procedures
• Familiarity with ocean freight documentation, Incoterms and bill of lading structures
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage time-sensitive regulatory filings
• Comfortable working within freight management and customs documentation systems
• Clear written and verbal communication skills

This role operates at the intersection of regulatory compliance and freight execution, where accuracy and timing directly affect cargo release and downstream transportation. Skypace automates standardized documentation workflows while relying on experienced professionals to manage compliance judgement, coordination with brokers and exception handling.

Professionally, the role provides an‑on‑hand exposure to U.S. import regulations, real‑time shipment execution and structured operational processes supported by integrated technology.

Skypace operates in full compliance with international freight forwarding regulations. Maxton Shipping Inc. dba Skypace is a registered NVOCC (Non‑Vessel Operating Common Carrier) under FMC License 027662.