Find 24 verified freight forwarders in Houston — FCL, LCL, air freight & customs clearance agents near Port of Houston. Free CalculateCBM directory.
Finding a reliable freight forwarder in Houston has never been easier. CalculateCBM lists 24 verified freight forwarders in Houston — companies serving importers and exporters through Port of Houston and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, arranging FCL and LCL ocean freight, air cargo, customs clearance and door-to-door delivery. Whether you are importing raw materials, exporting finished goods or handling one-off project cargo, comparing several freight forwarders side by side saves you time and money. Use the filters to narrow by service — FCL, LCL, air freight, road transport or customs clearance — or browse all 24 freight forwarders in Houston below. Each profile shows the services offered, trade lanes covered, year established and verified contact details, plus reviews from shippers who have worked with them. Shortlist two or three, then send an enquiry directly — it is completely free, with no broker fees and nothing to sign up for.
A freight forwarder arranges international shipments on your behalf — booking ocean or air space, filing the Importer Security Filing (ISF) with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), coordinating drayage from the port to your warehouse, and working with a licensed customs broker to clear your goods through customs. Many established forwarders hold both an FMC OTI (Ocean Transportation Intermediary) licence and a CBP customs broker licence, covering the full import cycle end-to-end.
The Port of Houston — the largest US port by total foreign waterborne tonnage — is the energy and project cargo capital of North America. Freight forwarders in Houston specialise in break-bulk, heavy-lift project cargo (drilling equipment, pipeline modules, refinery components), and oversized shipments alongside standard FCL/LCL ocean freight via Barbours Cut and Bayport Container Terminals. Air cargo operations route through George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), one of the top five US international air cargo gateways. Houston forwarders with strong energy-sector experience and relationships at both container terminals are especially valuable for the Texas Gulf Coast supply chain.
Typical cost: LCL ocean freight on major US trade lanes typically runs $80–$180/CBM all-in. FCL rates for a 40ft container from China to a US West Coast port average $2,500–$5,000 in a normal market. Customs brokerage entry fees add $150–$350 per entry; ISF filing adds $30–$75.
Go to fmc.dot.gov and search by company name or OTI number to confirm their Federal Maritime Commission registration is active. For customs brokerage, search the CBP Broker Management lookup. Both checks take under two minutes and should be done before signing any service agreement.
For ocean LCL, expect $80–$180 per CBM depending on origin and market rates. For a 40ft FCL from Asia, $2,500–$5,000 all-in is a reasonable baseline in a normal freight market. Get itemised quotes from at least three forwarders — rates fluctuate significantly with market conditions and carrier space availability.
Helpful guides: How to find & vet a freight forwarder · Free freight quote template
CalculateCBM's logistics company directory connects shippers, importers and exporters with verified freight forwarders, NVOCCs, transporters, customs agents and warehouses worldwide. Every listing is manually reviewed before going live.
Whether you need FCL or LCL ocean freight, air cargo, cross-border trucking, customs clearance or bonded warehousing — you'll find the right logistics partner here. New to sourcing partners? Read our guide on how to find a freight forwarder and compare the best freight forwarding software to manage shipments once you've chosen one.
Shipping to or from India? See our reference list of seaports and airports in India, or read the freight forwarding software guide before you digitise your operations. New to the jargon? Our shipping glossary defines the key freight terms.
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Search our directory by company type, country, and city. All listed companies are reviewed before going live. Click any profile to view their services and send a direct enquiry — no email addresses shown publicly. For a step-by-step vetting checklist, see how to find a reliable freight forwarder.
A freight forwarder acts as an agent arranging cargo transportation on behalf of shippers using carrier space they don't own. An NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) issues its own bills of lading and contracts directly with ocean carriers, then sells space to shippers.
Yes. Every company listed on CalculateCBM is manually reviewed before being approved and made public. We verify company type, location, and contact information before listing.
Yes, listing your company is completely free. Submit your profile and our team reviews and approves it within 24–48 hours.