What Is a Container Freight Station?
When you order goods from overseas, they often travel as part of a Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) shipment — your products share a shipping container with other importers' goods to save on freight costs.
When that container arrives at Port of Virginia, it's taken to a Container Freight Station (CFS) — a secure port-side warehouse where mixed containers are unloaded, individual cargo is separated, and each shipment is held until the rightful owner picks it up.
The catch? You are responsible for arranging transport from the CFS to your destination. Most Amazon sellers have to hire a separate drayage (trucking) company to do this — adding cost, delays, and one more vendor to manage.
Anchor Prep Solutions eliminates that step entirely. We go to the CFS, pick up your cargo, and bring it straight to our prep floor.
Why This Matters for Amazon Sellers
CFS Pickup — Step by Step
From container arrival to prep start — here's exactly what happens and what you need to do.
Your Container Arrives at Port of Virginia
Your LCL or FCL shipment arrives at the Port of Virginia and is offloaded to the Container Freight Station (CFS) — a secure holding facility at the port.
Send Us Your Documents
Share your Bill of Lading, delivery order, CFS release authorization, and shipment reference number. We review everything before scheduling.
We Schedule Pickup Directly with the CFS
We contact the CFS facility on your behalf, confirm your cargo is released, and book a pickup slot — no extra coordination required from you.
We Handle the Drayage
Our team drives to the CFS, collects your cargo, and transports it directly to our prep facility. No third-party drayage company needed.
Intake, Inspection & Prep Begins
On arrival we count, inspect, and photograph your inventory. Prep begins the same day. You receive an intake report within hours.
Which CFS Facilities Do We Service?
We service all major Container Freight Station facilities at the Port of Virginia in the Hampton Roads region.
Virginia International Gateway (VIG)
Portsmouth, VA
Primary deep-water terminal — most LCL imports arrive here.
Norfolk International Terminals (NIT)
Norfolk, VA
One of the largest terminal facilities on the East Coast.
APM Terminals Virginia
Portsmouth, VA
Major container terminal with active CFS operations.
Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT)
Portsmouth, VA
Handles breakbulk and containerized cargo including LCL.
Craney Island Marine Terminal
Portsmouth, VA
Specialized terminal — contact us to confirm coverage.
Not sure if we cover your CFS? Contact us with your facility name and we'll confirm coverage within one business day.
What You Need to Provide
To schedule a CFS pickup, we'll need the following documents and information from you. Most of these come directly from your freight forwarder.
Bill of Lading (BOL)
The primary shipping document from your freight forwarder. Required for cargo release at the CFS.
Delivery Order (DO)
Issued by your freight forwarder or carrier to authorize cargo release to us on your behalf.
CFS Release Authorization
Written authorization allowing Anchor Prep Solutions to pick up your cargo from the specified CFS.
Your Contact Info & Shipment Reference
Your name, email, phone, and the CFS shipment or cargo reference number for our records.
Not sure what you have? Send us what you've got and we'll let you know if anything's missing.
Transparent Pickup Pricing
CFS pickup fees are charged separately from prep services. All prices below are for pickup and transport to our facility only.
Pricing is based on standard pallet cargo at major Port of Virginia CFS facilities. High-volume, oversized, or hazmat cargo may require a custom quote. Prep service fees (labeling, FBA prep, etc.) are quoted separately.
Important: No Unsolicited Deliveries
All inventory intake is via scheduled CFS pickup or client drop-off at our facility only. Please do not ship inventory to our address without prior arrangement — it will be refused.
CFS Pickup FAQ
What is a Container Freight Station (CFS)?
A CFS is a port-side facility where Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) shipments are broken down and sorted. When your goods share a container with other importers, your cargo is separated at the CFS before it can be picked up or delivered.
Do I need to arrange my own drayage?
No. We handle all transport from the CFS to our prep facility. The pickup fee covers drayage — you do not need to hire a separate trucking company.
What if my cargo arrives at a different terminal?
Contact us with your specific CFS location and we will confirm whether we service it. We cover all major Port of Virginia terminals and can often accommodate other nearby facilities with a custom quote.
What if my cargo is not released yet when I contact you?
No problem — just send us your documents early so we have everything on file. We will monitor the release status and schedule pickup as soon as your cargo is cleared.
Can you pick up FCL (Full Container Load) shipments?
No, we cannot accommodate FCL shipments at this time.
How quickly can you pick up after cargo is released?
Typically within 1–2 business days of receiving release confirmation. Rush same-day pickups are available for an additional fee, subject to driver availability.
How is CFS pickup priced separately from prep?
CFS pickup (drayage) is billed as a separate line item from prep services. You will receive two quotes: one for pickup/transport and one for prep work. Both are confirmed before we begin.