Unpaid charges and other line hold causes
A freight hold means the carrier is not ready to let the cargo go. It is a commercial block, not a regulatory one, so it clears through the carrier or its agent rather than through customs. NVOCC shipments add a layer: the ocean carrier releases to the NVOCC or its agent, and the NVOCC then releases to its own customer, so either one can be the source of the hold.
- Collect freight or destination charges not yet paid
- Original Bill of Lading not surrendered, or no telex release
- Credit not approved for the paying party
- Documents the carrier requires before delivery still missing
Clearing the hold before the truck arrives
The arrival notice usually lists what the carrier needs: payment, original bills or a telex release, and sometimes details of the party collecting the cargo. Send payment confirmation and documents early, then confirm with the carrier or the terminal that the hold has actually dropped. A release can clear in the carrier's system before the terminal screen updates, so leave time for the status to pass through before an early appointment.
Telling a freight hold from a customs hold
The two often appear side by side and are easy to confuse. A customs hold means a government agency has not released the cargo, while a freight hold means the carrier has not. Paying the carrier does nothing for a customs hold, and a CBP release does nothing for unpaid freight. Read both columns on the terminal's availability screen before dispatch, and route each question to the right party.
Example
The terminal shows EGSU4312683 with no customs hold but a freight hold, because the consignee has not yet paid the destination charges on the arrival notice.
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Questions
What does Freight Hold mean?
A freight hold, also called a line or carrier hold, is a block the ocean carrier places on an import container until its conditions for release are met. Unpaid freight or charges and unmet Bill of Lading requirements are the usual causes.
Who removes a freight hold?
The ocean carrier removes it once its payment and document conditions are met, and on NVOCC shipments the NVOCC must also release to its customer. The terminal only reflects the carrier's release and cannot lift a line hold itself.
Can a freight hold come back after release?
It can. A carrier may reinstate a hold if a payment fails or a document problem surfaces, so recheck status shortly before pickup.