GM and Delphi Name Circle As National Customs Broker
23 February 2000
General Motors Corp. and Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. Name Circle As National Customs Broker
DETROIT--Feb. 22, 2000--Ocean Freight Shipments Entering the U.S.
Circle International has been awarded separate multi-year contracts by General Motors Corp. and Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. to provide customs brokerage for all offshore import shipments into the U.S.
As national customs broker for GM and Delphi, Circle becomes the sole provider managing customs clearance for all inbound cargoes arriving via both air and ocean transportation into multiple ports of entry throughout the U.S. The shipments, destined for manufacturing and production sites throughout North America, originate from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America.
Circle was selected following a rigorous evaluation process in which GM and Delphi reviewed bids from 17 firms. "Circle's thorough proposal, dedicated team for the automotive industry, and proven customs brokerage expertise were deciding factors," noted Kevin M. Smith, GM's director of customs administration.
To service one of the largest customs brokerage awards in the company's history, Circle designed a program creating five service centers throughout the U.S. Located in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and New York, the centers will perform entry filing, document processing and management, and liaison with U.S. Customs to achieve timely clearance and expedited release of imports, which arrive daily at multiple ports of entry. Each center has customs brokerage personnel dedicated to GM and Delphi as well as staff specialists skilled in regulatory compliance for automotive products.
The worldwide supply chains for GM and Delphi annually move more than 32,000 shipments into the U.S., each of which contain deliveries for multiple plants, noted Trish Zarik, vice president of global accounts for Circle Automotive Logistics Services.
"Our job is supporting just-in-time deliveries to GM and Delphi plants and distribution facilities," she said. "Achieving prompt and cost-effective clearance requires a skilled team of people to transmit information to Customs accurately and efficiently. It's especially important in a manufacturing environment where shipments are extremely valuable and time-sensitive. That expertise and experience is what Circle brings to the table."
David I. Beatson, Circle's chairman, president and CEO, commented that the award reinforced primary strengths of the Circle organization. "GM and Delphi are new customers whom we targeted, with our expanded focus on sales, as strategic business partners," he noted. "We're proud to have earned their support. Circle's foundation is customs brokerage. This award is a significant endorsement of our core competency, and of our strategy emphasizing industry-specific service capabilities."
San Francisco-based Circle International Group, Inc. is an $800 million global transportation, supply chain management and information services company. Founded in 1898, Circle today has more than 4,500 employees, with 323 offices in 100 countries, Circle provides complete logistics solutions for clients worldwide, including air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage and trade compliance, materials management, warehousing, trade facilitation and procurement, and integrated supply chain management services. For more information about Circle, visit our web site at www.circleintl.com.