In-Bond Transfers, Transportation, and Chain of Custody
What this domain tests
In-Bond Transfers, Transportation, and Chain of Custody tests the movement of bonded cargo between ports, warehouses, and export points without payment of duty. Questions cover in-bond documents, carrier responsibility, seals, arrival reporting, and unauthorized diversion.
Core rules
- In-bond cargo moves under a customs bond and must follow the authorized route, time limit, and destination.
- The carrier and the party receiving the cargo must be identified and accountable. The carrier's bond or authorization must cover the movement.
- Seal the conveyance or container, record the seal number, and verify it at arrival. Report any break or discrepancy.
- Notify customs of arrival and close the in-bond movement with the required document. An unclosed movement can create liability.
- Diversion, unauthorized unloading, or delivery to a non-bonded location is a serious violation. Chain-of-custody records should show each handoff.
Worked example
An in-bond shipment leaves a seaport for a bonded warehouse inland. The carrier's document names the warehouse as destination. At arrival, the seal is intact but the driver lacks the arrival copy. The warehouse verifies the seal, records the handoff, holds the cargo in bond, and completes the arrival report. If the driver instead delivers to a nearby non-bonded yard because it is closer, the movement is diverted without authorization and the bond exposure continues.
Traps
Treating in-bond cargo as duty-paid; missing the arrival close-out; ignoring a route change; accepting a handoff without seal verification; and failing to keep carrier and receiver records.