SOUTHERN STATES FORWARDING, INC.

Southern States Forwarding, Inc. has been a fixture in the Memphis, Tennessee trade community since its founding in 1974. For over 50 years, the firm has provided licensed customs house brokerage and freight forwarding services to importers and exporters moving goods through U.S. ports of entry. Located at 5269 Brantford Road in East Memphis, the company operates under CBP filer code EL5 and holds licenses from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Customs and Border Protection (CHB), and participates in the C-TPAT trusted trader program — a combination of credentials that signals a serious commitment to trade compliance and supply chain security.

What sets Southern States Forwarding apart is the background of its president, Bruce Victor Friedman, CHB, Esq. As both a licensed Customs House Broker and an Attorney at Law, Friedman brings a legal dimension to customs work that benefits clients facing complex entry situations, tariff classification disputes, or questions about importer of record requirements. Whether you need assistance identifying the correct 10-digit HTS code for a commodity, determining single entry bond versus continuous customs bond requirements, or understanding ISF 10+2 filing obligations, the firm has the expertise to guide you through the process accurately.

Memphis is one of the most strategically important logistics hubs in the United States — home to one of the world's busiest cargo airports and a major inland distribution center for goods moving across the South and Midwest. Southern States Forwarding's location here positions the firm well to assist importers receiving ocean freight through Gulf and East Coast ports, as well as air cargo arriving through Memphis International. The firm specializes in ocean forwarding and has developed resources including freight forwarding educational materials and a glossary of trade terms, reflecting its commitment to client education alongside transaction execution.

Services offered by Southern States Forwarding include customs entry preparation, importer security filing (ISF), ocean freight forwarding, continuous and single entry bond procurement, HTS code classification, and general import compliance consulting. Importers searching for a customs broker near Memphis who can also bring legal perspective to their trade compliance program will find Southern States Forwarding a uniquely qualified option. The firm's long track record, C-TPAT participation, and attorney-led leadership make it a strong choice for businesses of all sizes importing goods into the United States.