Shipping Freight from Miami to Puerto Rico: A 2026 Guide

Shipping freight from Miami and South Florida to Puerto Rico in 2026 runs on Jones Act ocean carriers sailing from Jacksonville and Port Everglades, with transit of roughly 3 to 5 days to San Juan. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, there is no customs entry — but shipments face island excise tax, and the Jones Act limits the trade to U.S.-flag vessels. Here is how to plan the move.

Jones Act basics for the Puerto Rico trade

Cargo moving between U.S. ports — including San Juan — must travel on U.S.-built, U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed vessels. In practice, the mainland-to-island trade is served by a small group of carriers operating scheduled barge and container services from Florida. That keeps schedules reliable but makes booking early important around peak retail season.

LCL, FCL or trailer: choosing your mode

Full containers and trailers work for pallet counts above roughly 12 to 14 positions; smaller shipments ride cheaper as LCL through a consolidator. Go Freight receives freight at its Miami warehouse, consolidates it, and tenders to the ocean carrier — the same groupage process described in our Caribbean export consolidation guide. Oversized machinery and vehicles move on flatracks or roll-on/roll-off decks.

Documents and taxes

No CBP entry is required, but you will need a bill of lading, commercial invoice or valued packing list, and the consignee pays Puerto Rico excise tax (arbitrios) through the island Treasury before pickup. Hazmat requires standard DOT/IMDG paperwork. If you are consolidating retail goods, accurate piece counts and values speed excise clearance at destination.

Getting freight to the ship on time

Sailings are weekly or twice-weekly with firm cutoffs, usually 24 to 48 hours before departure. An asset-based 3PL can cross-dock your inbound vendor freight, palletize it — see our guide to palletizing LTL freight — and dray it to the terminal the same day. Go Freight runs daily FTL and LTL pickups across Miami-Dade and Broward feeding Puerto Rico consolidations.

Frequently asked questions

How long does shipping from Miami to Puerto Rico take in 2026?

Ocean transit is about 3 to 5 days port to port, plus consolidation time in Florida and excise clearance in San Juan. Door-to-door LCL typically runs 7 to 10 days.

Do I need a customs broker to ship to Puerto Rico?

No customs entry is needed because it is domestic U.S. trade, but consignees must settle Puerto Rico excise tax before cargo release, and hazmat still requires compliant documentation.

Is LCL or a full container cheaper to San Juan?

Below roughly 12 pallets, LCL through a Miami consolidator usually wins. Above that, a dedicated container or trailer gives better per-unit cost and faster release.

Shipping to Puerto Rico? Request a free quote or call (786) 445-0150.