If your shipment was accidentally left behind during loading and you haven’t received customs clearance updates, don’t panic. This could be a standard part of the shipping company’s operational process. Many cargo owners have faced similar situations, worrying whether their goods will clear customs smoothly. However, when a shipping company arranges for a missed loading (commonly referred to as a "rollover" or "short-shipped" cargo), they typically take responsibility for subsequent customs declarations.
So why does customs clearance information for rollover cargo take longer than for normally booked shipments? The reason lies in the shipping company’s workflow. They have more flexible timelines when handling missed-loading cargo. Instead of processing each case individually, they consolidate these shipments and submit declarations in bulk after the new voyage’s cutoff time. As a result, updates on customs clearance may be delayed.
In most cases, as long as the port system shows that the cargo has been successfully loaded onto the new vessel, it means the goods meet all necessary customs requirements. The absence of immediate clearance updates should not be a cause for concern. This is especially common in major ports like Shanghai, where shipping companies manage rollovers or rebookings—port systems may not immediately reflect customs clearance status due to procedural delays.
If you encounter such a situation, the best approach is to remain patient and maintain open communication with the shipping company to track the latest progress. In summary, when a rollover is initiated by the shipping company, they handle the customs formalities, and cargo owners need only monitor the port’s loading confirmation to ensure their goods are on track.