RANK SHIPPING INC

Rank Shipping Inc has been a fixture in the U.S. customs brokerage and freight forwarding industry since its founding in 1975. Based in Rockville Centre, New York — on Long Island, within close proximity to JFK International Airport and the Port of New York and New Jersey — the firm has spent nearly five decades helping importers navigate the complexities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements.

The company is currently led by Donald Penson, a third-generation owner who assumed leadership in 1997 following his father Robert Penson. This continuity of family ownership reflects a long-standing commitment to client relationships and institutional knowledge that is difficult to replicate in larger, more transactional brokerage operations.

One of Rank Shipping's most practical advantages for importers is its Remote Location Filing (RLF) national permit. This designation allows the firm to file customs entries electronically at any U.S. port of entry, giving clients flexibility regardless of where their goods arrive — whether at a major gateway like Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, or a smaller inland port. Importers of record working with Rank Shipping are not geographically constrained to New York-area arrivals.

Rank Shipping is also an IATA-certified freight forwarder, enabling them to coordinate international air freight arrangements in addition to handling customs clearance. Their service offering covers the full lifecycle of an import shipment: from accurate HTS code classification and customs entry preparation — including formal and informal entries and importer security filing (ISF) — to physical pickup and delivery from airports and ocean piers or container freight stations (CFS) across the United States.

For time-sensitive cargo, Rank Shipping offers wheels-up customs clearance seven days a week, a meaningful capability for importers whose goods move on tight schedules. The firm also provides expedited shipment handling and white glove delivery services for high-value or fragile cargo.

Importers evaluating customs brokers near them in the New York metro area, or those seeking a nationally permitted broker who can clear goods at any U.S. port, will find that Rank Shipping's combination of longevity, family ownership, RLF authorization, and freight forwarding credentials makes it a well-rounded option for both routine and complex import programs.