JAS IN THE AMERICAS

News From JAS Worldwide - Americas Focus

JAS Americas HQ

6195 Barfield Road

Atlanta GA, 30328

United States

Strategic Laredo Branch Provides Cross-Border Advantage

JAS Worldwide Leverages the Power of JAS Laredo to Grow and Increase a Cross-Border Presence

By
Eugenio Fumo
June 11, 2021

JAS Laredo opened in 2015 as a sales office dedicated to increasing the JAS cross-border traffic. Laredo offers JAS Worldwide a solid strategic location where the company can grow and increase its presence on both sides of the U.S. - Mexican border. This branch also creates solutions and acts as additional support for the JAS Worldwide network.  

JAS Laredo started as part of the JAS Houston Branch before becoming a satellite office. The move was made in conjunction with JAS McAllen, where their significant efforts contributed to JAS McAllen receiving a nomination for branch of the year in 2019. JAS Laredo focuses on selling cross-border business. Their specialties include transportation and US-Mexico customs brokerage, with a strong footprint in distribution and warehousing services.  

With much operational growth in 2017, Customs Entry Specialist Laura “Rocio” Enriquez joined the team.  She brings with her more than 10 years of experience in US/MX customs brokerage. With the support of JAS Compliance and Enriquez’s natural drive, the team has excelled in this area, building valuable and trusting relationships.  

In February 2021, the Laredo team moved into a state-of-the-art facility with direct access to third-party warehouses. JAS Laredo has two warehouses at its disposal, each one with about 60,000 square feet with 1,000 pallet positions. Under the leadership of Antonio Pastrana, Branch Manager, the Laredo team adopted an admirable understanding of the market and the intricacies of dealing with the United States and Mexican governments. The boutique concept to selling along the southern border and the consultancy approach with JAS Laredo’s customers has brought on new business and a newfound demand for the products and services offered.  

The Laredo team has proven expertise and true skill in establishing cross-border solutions, which has enabled JAS to stand out against its competitors, particularly in this volatile market. The Laredo team currently operates a distribution model for two of its key global customers, utilizing the customers’ systems and acting as an extension of their operations.  

Monica Ortiz, the Operational Supervisor, brings more than 20 years of experience in freight forwarding to the team. She specializes in 4-wall distribution and logistics, which supports JAS Laredo’s efforts in providing these additional services in Laredo while maintaining an impressive 98.5 percent inventory accuracy.  

Tracy Garcia, Transportation Supervisor, was JAS Laredo’s first hire, with years of experience in trucking and ground transportation from the carrier and broker/forwarder side of the business. Tracy’s impact on the JAS Laredo operation became clear immediately. Her level of dedication and enthusiasm is commendable. Regularly going the extra mile to ensure that our internal and external customers are satisfied, she provides a level of contagious positivity. Garcia is a team member who makes a difference.  

The JAS Laredo team is incredibly pleased with the developments taking place within the branch. JAS Laredo handles a vast customer portfolio of locally controlled and developed businesses. JAS Laredo provides trucking services, together with US and MX customs brokerage via multiple border crossings.  Similarly, JAS Laredo provides ground transportation services from multiple pick-up points in Mexico.

Like JAS Miami, the Laredo team has access to an FTZ (Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc.). This activation also allows JAS Laredo to provide specialized services related to FTZ operations. For legal purposes, this space is outside the customs territory of the United States, which provides the opportunity to offer weekly entry services, duty deferral for import goods, and duty eliminations for some export goods while also providing cost-saving measures. These are major benefits when operating along the border.

The Laredo team has gained a unique perspective from our Mexican brokerage side, truly operating in a cohesive manner, which has certainly allowed for the development of detailed and targeted solutions for our clients. The Laredo team is expanding by exceeding the industry standard. I am grateful to the team for their efforts in continuously remaining innovative and committed to our customers.
Congratulations JAS Laredo, what an inspiring branch! At JAS People Make the Difference!" Eugenio Fumo, CEO JAS USA

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Parker Hannifin has recognized JAS with its International Freight Forwarder of the Year award for 2025

Once again, Parker Hannifin has recognized JAS with its International Freight Forwarder of the Year award for 2025. Parker Hannifin, a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies, serves a wide range of industries including aerospace, climate control, filtration, and automation. The company highlighted JAS’s cybersecurity and sustainability efforts, on-time delivery, and commitment to continuous improvement as key reasons for selecting JAS as this year’s recipient.

This marks the third time JAS has been honored with this award, having previously received the recognition in 2017 and 2020. Being named  International Freight Forwarder of the Year once again underscores JAS’s ongoing commitment to delivering customer value, consistent partnership, and excellence in global logistics solutions.

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We would like to remind our customers of the implementation of the Import Control System 2 (ICS2), the European Union’s enhanced pre-arrival safety and security program for cargo entering or transiting through EU Member States, as well as Norway, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland. Effective 1 September 2025, ICS2 became mandatory across all modes of transport—air, ocean, road, and rail. This regulation requires the submission of detailed shipment data via an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) prior to cargo arrival at the EU border.

What You Need to Know ICS2 is designed to:

  • Strengthen EU border security
  • Enable early risk assessment
  • Facilitate legitimate trade
  • Prevent delays and penalties due to non-compliance

Your Responsibilities as a Shipper or Cargo Owner

To ensure compliance and avoid disruptions, please take note of the following obligations:

Data Submission Requirements

You must provide:

  • A complete and accurate commercial description of each item
  • A valid Harmonized System (HS) code, consisting of at least six digits—though in many cases, EU customs may require eight digits or the full tariff code.
  • A valid Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number for the EU consignee/importer (and for other parties in the EU where applicable)
  • Full details of all parties involved (seller, buyer, consignor, consignee)

Filing Responsibilities

  • Freight Forwarders/NVOCCs: File ENS at the house bill level.
  • Carriers: File ENS at the master bill level.
  • Consignees: Provide valid EORI numbers to ensure accurate filing.

Non-Compliance Risks Failure to comply with ICS2 requirements may lead to:

  • Shipments being delayed, rejected, or held at EU borders
  • Customs inspections and possible administrative penalties
  • Additional costs related to storage or missed deliveries

Recommended Actions to prepare for ICS2 compliance:

  • Audit your product master data for HS codes and descriptions
  • Standardize commercial invoices and packing lists
  • Validate and integrate EORI numbers into your systems
  • Establish clear communication protocols with your logistics partners
  • Ensure complete shipment data is provided to your freight forwarder in time for ENS filing (e.g., at least 24 hours before vessel loading for ocean freight).

Technology & Support

In response to the EU’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) requirements, we want to reassure our customers that our experienced staff and systems are fully prepared to manage the necessary data submissions and compliance procedures on your behalf. To support this service and ensure the smooth processing of your shipments, a compliance handling fee will apply. This fee covers the administrative effort and data validation to meet the latest EU regulations efficiently and accurately.


We are also investing in digital tools and customs platforms to automate data validation and submission, reducing manual errors and ensuring timely compliance. If you have any questions or would like guidance on preparing your shipment data, please contact your JAS account representative.

JAS has been awarded a Silver Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment, achieving a score of 75 points.

JAS has been awarded a Silver Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment, achieving a score of 75 points. This marks a 15-point improvement from last year’s Bronze rating and places JAS among the top 15% of companies assessed globally.

EcoVadis is one of the world’s most trusted providers of business sustainability ratings, evaluating over 130,000 companies across four categories: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.

In the latest assessment, JAS received particularly strong recognition in the Environment category (91/100), reflecting our focus on decarbonization, responsible resource use, and advancing sustainable logistics solutions. JAS also recorded solid progress in Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, showing how JAS is working to embed responsible practices across its global operations and supply chain.

Andrea Goeman, SVP Sustainability, JAS, commented:

“We are proud to see our progress recognized with the EcoVadis Silver Medal. This achievement reflects the collaboration across our global teams and our strong commitment to building a more sustainable future for our customers, partners, and communities. While this is an important milestone, we will continue to strengthen our practices to further improve our performance in the years ahead.”

With a score of 75 points, JAS now ranks in the 92nd percentile of all companies assessed by EcoVadis. This performance not only supports many of our customers’ supplier selection and evaluation processes, but also highlights the steady progress we are making year over year.

As JAS continues its sustainability journey, the company remains focused on driving measurable improvements across its operations and working closely with customers and partners to reduce environmental impact and achieve shared sustainability goals.

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