When you import an engine, the supplier will ship the engine to a US Customs Port of Entry. Along with the engine is documentation, usually an invoice that describes what materials are going to be passed through Customs, their value, who sent the materials, who is to receive the materials, and the materials' final destination. The shipper notifies Customs that the engine has been delivered to the port and the entry process can begin.

Since the receiver/importer of the goods is unlikely to be present at the time of the engine arrives at the port of entry, a licensed customs broker/expediter represents the buyer and receives the materials on the US side of the border. I believe the shipping company who transported the engine to the border, the broker, and the shipping company that picks up the engine at the border, all work together. If the engine's value is over $2,000 a formal entry may have to be made. This means that there will be a bond requirement. I believe in my case the broker put up the bond so that the engine shipment could be expedited and Customs was assured payment of all duties, taxes, and fees. After this is done the engine is released so that it can be picked up by a shipper on the US side of the border and delivered to the buyer/importer.

The US shipper will call the buyer/importer and arrange for final delivery. When you receive the engine, you must pay the US shipper. The shipper reports that the goods have been delivered and shipping has been paid to the expediter. The expediter reports to US Customs that all transactions are complete, and that the buyer has received the engine and paid the US shipper, and he, the expediter, is released from the bond by the US Customs. At this time the expediter, sends the buyer/importer a bill for his services.