Gating In

What is gating in?

Gating in means "checking in" for shipments.

A container needs to gate in at the Container Yard (CY) before the CY cut-off, and a LCL (Less than Container Load) shipment needs to gate in at the CFS (Container Freight Station) before the CFS (Container Freight Station) Cut-off.

Quoted rates are locked in with the carrier once the shipment has gated in.

Why does gating in matter?

Gating in tells the terminal or CFS that your cargo has arrived and is ready for loading onto a vessel. The carrier usually records the gate-in time, and that record helps confirm your cargo made the cut-off for its planned sailing. If cargo gates in late, the carrier may roll it to a later vessel, which delays delivery and can add storage fees.

What happens if you miss the cut-off?

Terminals and CFS facilities often refuse cargo after the cut-off, depending on the port and carrier. The shipment then waits for the next available sailing. Ask your forwarder for the exact cut-off times and plan for trucking delays so the container or cargo arrives with time to spare.

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