The California partner behind your forwarding operation
Airport recovery, cartage, cross-dock and final mile across the state, run as an extension of your operation. WCA member, TSA certified and used to working under someone else brand and someone else SOP.
- WCA member
- TSA certified
- Cross-dock capable
- Statewide cartage
- 24/7 dispatch
Marvin Transportation has run freight forwarders across California since the company started, with dispatch open around the clock and proof of delivery on every job.
Forwarders and 3PLs do not need a carrier with opinions about how the job should run. They need one that reads the SOP, hits the milestone and reports it in the format the customer expects. We work as a subcontracted extension of your operation, not as a competitor introducing ourselves to your client.
We handle California cartage, airport recovery, cross-dock and final mile for forwarders, NVOCCs and 3PLs, including partners routing freight in from overseas through LAX, SFO, OAK and SAN. As a WCA member we are used to the handoff conventions the network runs on.
What we handle for forwarding partners
The California leg, done to your SOP.
Airport cargo recovery
TSA certified pickup from airline cargo terminals at LAX, SFO, OAK and SAN, cleared and moved.
Cartage and drayage
Port and airport to warehouse, warehouse to consignee, on the vehicle class the load needs.
Cross-dock and deconsolidation
Inbound freight broken down and rebuilt for local distribution without a storage step.
Line haul between hubs
Fixed intercity lanes between Northern and Southern California with reliable departure times.
Final mile delivery
Consignee delivery with signature or photo proof, including liftgate and inside delivery.
Storage and staging
Short term warehousing when freight lands before the consignee can take it.
Why forwarders subcontract to us
We work to your SOP
Milestones, documentation and reporting in the format your customer expects. We do not impose our process on your account.
Neutral in front of your client
We deliver under your instructions and do not solicit your customers. The relationship stays yours.
TSA certification in place
Airport cargo recovery is a routine pickup rather than an access problem, at both ends of the state.
WCA network conventions
As a WCA member we know how network handoffs, documentation and expectations work.
One carrier statewide
LAX and SFO under one agreement, plus Sacramento, the Central Valley and San Diego, so you are not managing four vendors.
Dispatch that answers at any hour
International freight does not land during office hours. A live coordinator is available around the clock.
Operating standards
The things a forwarder needs from a subcontractor, as standard.
- TSA certified for air cargo pickup and delivery
- WCA member with familiarity of network handoff conventions
- Milestone reporting in the format your customer requires
- Proof of delivery with signature, timestamp and photo where required
- Liftgate, pallet jack and inside delivery available on final mile
- DOT registered fleet, FMCSA hours of service and ELD compliance
- Cargo insurance with certificates issued to you or your client on request
How a run works
Onboard the SOP
We take your standard operating procedure, milestone definitions and reporting format, and set the account up around them.
Recover or collect
Airport recovery under our TSA certification, or collection from your warehouse or the port.
Move and report
Cartage, cross-dock or line haul as instructed, with milestones reported as they happen rather than at the end.
Deliver and close
Final mile with the proof of delivery your customer expects, returned in your format.
Services these accounts use most
TSA air cargo
Airport cargo recovery at LAX, SFO, OAK and SAN under our TSA certification.
Cross-dock
Deconsolidation and rebuild for local distribution without a storage step.
Cartage and freight
Palletized and heavy freight between airports, ports, warehouses and consignees.
Line haul
Fixed lanes between Northern and Southern California with contract rates.
Questions we get from this sector
Do you work as a subcontractor under our brand?
Yes. We deliver under your instructions and to your SOP, and we do not solicit your customers. Most of our forwarding work is white label.
Which airports can you recover freight from?
LAX, SFO, OAK and SAN as standard, with regional fields on request. We are TSA certified, so cargo terminal collection is routine.
Can you report milestones into our system?
We report in the format you require. Tell us the milestone definitions and the delivery method and we will match them rather than sending you our default.
Do you offer cross-dock without storage?
Yes. Inbound freight can be deconsolidated and rebuilt for local distribution the same day, avoiding a storage charge and a day of transit.
Are you a WCA member?
Yes. That familiarity with network conventions is part of why forwarding partners use us for the California leg.
Can you cover both LAX and SFO on one agreement?
Yes, plus Sacramento, the Central Valley and San Diego. One contract, one invoice and one dispatch desk for the whole state.
Add California capacity to your network
Send your SOP and a sample lane. We will confirm how we would run it and price it, before you route anything live.
Freight Forwarders across California
We handle freight forwarders for businesses across the Bay Area, Sacramento, the Central Valley and Southern California. Vehicles are DOT registered, cargo is fully insured, and every job closes with a signature or photo proof of delivery. One-off or recurring, dispatch can price it on the call rather than sending you a form.
Carrier standards for this work are set by the TSA air cargo program. For everything else we run, see our California logistics services.