CES (Centralized Examination Station)

A Centralized Examination Station (CES) is a privately operated, CBP-bonded facility located near a port of entry where U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducts physical examinations of imported cargo. When CBP selects a container for an intensive exam (full or partial devanning), the container is typically transported from the marine terminal to a CES, where the examination takes place under CBP officer supervision. The CES operator provides the facility, labor, and equipment needed to unload, inspect, and reload the container.

Why CES Facilities Exist

Marine terminals are designed for moving containers on and off vessels, not for unpacking and inspecting their contents. Physical examinations require warehouse-like space with dock doors, forklifts, and room to lay out cartons for inspection. Conducting exams at the marine terminal would consume valuable yard space and disrupt terminal operations.

CES facilities solve this by providing dedicated exam space off the terminal. CBP officers travel to the CES to supervise the exam, and the CES operator handles the physical labor of unloading cartons, presenting them for inspection, and reloading them into the container after the exam is complete. This arrangement allows the terminal to focus on vessel operations while exams proceed at a location designed for the purpose.

How a CES Exam Works

When CBP issues an exam order, the importer’s customs broker receives notification through the ACE system. The broker arranges for a trucker to pick up the container from the marine terminal and deliver it to the designated CES. The CES operator schedules the exam based on CBP officer availability, which can be the same day or several days later depending on the volume of exams in the queue.

During the exam, CES workers unload some or all of the container’s contents under CBP supervision. The officers may inspect specific cartons, take samples for laboratory testing, verify quantities against the customs declaration, photograph the contents, or conduct a complete devanning where every carton is removed and examined. After the exam, the CES reloads the container, the driver picks it up, and it proceeds to the importer’s warehouse or distribution center.

Exam types vary in scope. A tailgate exam involves opening the container doors and inspecting cartons at the rear without fully unloading. An intensive exam requires complete or near-complete devanning. X-ray exams may be conducted at the CES if the facility has scanning equipment, or at a separate NII (Non-Intrusive Inspection) location.

Costs

CES costs are borne entirely by the importer. The charges include:

Drayage to and from the CES: $250 to $600 depending on the distance from the marine terminal. This is an additional truck move beyond the normal delivery dray to the warehouse.

CES handling fees: $300 to $900 per container for a standard exam. Intensive exams requiring full devanning cost more than tailgate or partial exams. Some CES operators charge per pallet or per carton handled.

Storage fees: If the exam takes multiple days (waiting for CBP officer availability, lab results, or additional documentation), the CES charges daily storage of $50 to $150 per container.

Total CES exam costs for a standard 40-foot container typically range from $800 to $2,500. Intensive exams with lab testing and extended storage can exceed $4,000. These costs are in addition to any demurrage and terminal storage fees that accumulated at the marine terminal before the container was moved to the CES.

CES Locations

CES facilities operate at or near every major U.S. port. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have multiple CES operators. CES operators at smaller ports may have limited hours and scheduling availability. CBP designates which CES facility handles exams for a given terminal or port area, and importers generally cannot choose which CES receives their container.

Reducing CES Exposure

Importers cannot prevent CBP from selecting their containers for examination. However, participation in the C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) program reduces examination rates. C-TPAT members receive a lower risk score in CBP’s targeting system, resulting in fewer random exam selections. Maintaining clean compliance records, filing accurate customs entries, and providing detailed product descriptions also contribute to lower exam frequency over time.