Growing companies in Florida often hit a growth ceiling the first time they need to ship a full container or a few pallets to a customer in Puerto Rico. Costs, transit times, Jones Act rules, port choices, paperwork-everything feels more complicated than shipping across the state. Yet this lane is one of the most established in U.S. coastal trade, moving part of the 839 million tons of freight worth $1.1 trillion that Florida handled in 2022. Understanding how it works turns a stressful guessing game into a repeatable, reliable process.
This guide walks through how the Florida–Puerto Rico freight lane actually operates, what the Jones Act means for you, how to choose between ocean and air, what documents you really need, and how to handle specialized cargo like pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The goal is simple: help you ship with fewer surprises, cleaner budgets, and more on-time deliveries.
Why Shipping from Florida to Puerto Rico Matters
Florida is not just another outbound state for freight; it is one of the country’s heavyweight logistics hubs. A recent market report valued the state’s freight and logistics sector at $78.32 billion in 2025, with expectations that it will reach $97.10 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 4.45%, reflecting sustained investments in ports, roads, and logistics services across the state’s network of gateways and corridors. That scale translates into options: more sailings, more capacity, more carriers, and more specialized services for the Puerto Rico trade.
Puerto Rico, as a U.S. territory, sits in a unique position. It relies heavily on maritime and air links to Florida for food, construction materials, retail goods, industrial inputs, and especially life sciences products. For shippers, that means a lane with strong, consistent demand year-round, which tends to support reliable schedules and a mature ecosystem of freight forwarders, truckers, warehouses, and cold-chain providers. Jacksonville, Port Everglades, Miami, and Tampa all act as collection and consolidation points, drawing freight from across the Southeast before it sails to San Juan and other Puerto Rican terminals.
Jones Act Basics and Core Trade Lanes
The Florida–Puerto Rico ocean trade sits under the Jones Act, a U.S. maritime law that requires vessels operating in certain domestic trades to be U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and U.S.-crewed. For day-to-day shippers, the practical effect is less about legal language and more about the type of carrier you work with. Jones Act carriers specialize in this lane, run fixed-day weekly or multiple-weekly services, and build their networks and equipment around Puerto Rico’s needs. As one industry group notes, these carriers are dedicated to Puerto Rico and help local businesses keep goods more affordable while making the supply chain more reliable than many global alternatives.
Among the Jones Act routes, the Jacksonville–San Juan corridor stands out. A 2022 study identified it as the highest-volume Jones Act lane serving Puerto Rico and reported that rate increases on this route were marginally lower than those seen on comparable Caribbean lanes, signaling a relatively stable cost environment for shippers that use it consistently. That is one reason so much freight funnels through North Florida. Still, ports like Port Everglades and Miami are important options, especially for cargo originating further south in the state or tied to specific carrier networks. Choosing the right port often comes down to where the freight is produced, where it is stored, and which carrier or forwarder aligns with your volume and service requirements.
Choosing the Right Mode: Ocean, Air, or Multimodal
Most freight between Florida and Puerto Rico moves by ocean in containers or trailers. Full-container-load (FCL) and trailer-on-barge services offer the best balance of cost and capacity for everything from consumer goods and building materials to industrial machinery. Less-than-container-load (LCL) options allow smaller shippers to pay only for the space they use, consolidating freight with other cargo in shared containers. For many businesses, the decision is less about whether to use ocean and more about which variant-FCL, LCL, or trailer-based services-lines up with their freight profile.
Air freight comes into play when time and product value outweigh cost. High-value electronics, urgent spare parts, and sensitive medical devices often justify the premium. This is especially true when a missed delivery window would shut down a production line or delay a patient-critical procedure. Some companies also blend modes-ocean for routine replenishment, air for rush orders and exceptions. On top of that, shippers based outside Florida often rely on multimodal moves that start with truckload or intermodal rail to a Florida hub, then switch to ocean or air for the Puerto Rico leg. The smartest choice is rarely about mode in isolation; it is about designing a lane that fits your customers’ expectations, your inventory strategy, and your tolerance for risk.
Step-by-Step: Planning and Booking Your Shipment
1. Define your freight and deadlines
Everything gets easier when you start with clear data. That means knowing what you are shipping, how much of it there is, and when it needs to arrive. Carriers and forwarders will ask for dimensions, weight, number of pallets or pieces, stackability, hazardous classifications if applicable, and any special handling requirements. They also need realistic pickup and delivery windows. Building a simple lane profile-origin address, destination in Puerto Rico, required delivery date, and frequency-helps your logistics partners propose the right combination of services from the beginning.
It also helps to classify shipments into buckets: routine replenishment, seasonal surges, project or one-off moves, and emergency shipments. Routine freight can ride on standard weekly sailings, while project moves might require extra planning, specialized equipment, or additional storage space at the port. Emergencies might push you toward air or expedited ocean options. Having those categories in mind lets you negotiate contracts and spot quotes that actually match how your business operates, instead of forcing every shipment into the same mold.
2. Get quotes and choose your logistics partner
With a clear freight profile, you can approach ocean carriers, non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs), or freight forwarders for quotes. For many small and mid-sized shippers, working with a forwarder that specializes in Puerto Rico simplifies the process: they handle booking, documentation coordination, and exceptions management across ocean, air, and inland transportation. Larger shippers with predictable volume sometimes contract directly with carriers for base capacity and use forwarders to cover overflow or specialized loads.
When comparing quotes, look beyond the all-in number. Pay attention to what is included-port charges, documentation fees, fuel surcharges, chassis or trailer use, storage, and delivery on the island. Ask about typical transit times door-to-door, not just port-to-port, and how the provider handles disruptions like weather delays or port congestion. Service reliability, communication quality, and issue resolution often save more money over a year than squeezing a small discount out of the base rate.
3. Prepare documentation for Florida–Puerto Rico moves
Although shipments between Florida and Puerto Rico move within the U.S. system, the documentation set often looks similar to international freight. At a minimum, most moves will require a commercial invoice, packing list, and a bill of lading or air waybill. Depending on the cargo, you may also need hazardous materials declarations, certificates of origin for certain government or customer requirements, and filings through electronic export systems for controlled goods. For regulated products like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, alcohol, and certain chemicals, additional licenses or permits may apply.
Documentation is one place where cutting corners usually backfires. Incomplete or inconsistent paperwork can delay cargo at the port, trigger additional inspections, or create billing disputes long after the shipment delivers. A good practice is to standardize templates for invoices and packing lists, keep product descriptions clear but concise, and make sure all parties-shipper, carrier, forwarder, and consignee-agree on how the cargo will be described. When in doubt, involve a compliance specialist or customs broker familiar with Puerto Rico trade rather than guessing your way through regulatory requirements.
4. Package, label, and insure your cargo
Ocean and air shipments to Puerto Rico are handled, stacked, and moved multiple times between pickup and final delivery. Solid packaging and accurate labeling reduce the risk of damage, misrouting, and claims. Pallets should be stable, shrink-wrapped or banded securely, and labeled on multiple sides with shipment identifiers, destination details, and any special handling instructions. For sensitive goods, use appropriate cushioning, bracing, and moisture protection inside cartons or crates.
Cargo insurance is another piece that often gets overlooked until something goes wrong. Carrier liability is limited and may not cover the full value of your goods, especially high-value or fragile items. Discuss coverage options with your freight partner or insurance provider and decide whether per-shipment or annual policies make more sense. The cost is usually modest compared to the potential losses from a damaged container or a truckload that never arrives. Treat insurance as part of your landed cost calculations, not as an afterthought.
Compliance, Security, and Inspections on the Florida Side
Before freight ever reaches a vessel or aircraft, it has to move across Florida’s highways. That journey runs through a web of weigh stations, secure port gates, and agricultural inspection points. In August 2025, the state reclassified its 23 Agricultural Inspection Stations as Agricultural Inspection and Interdiction Stations, broadening their enforcement role beyond plant and animal health to include additional safety and interdiction activities. For shippers and truckers, that shift reinforces a basic reality: clean paperwork and compliant loads reduce the risk of delays or fines at these checkpoints.
Practical steps make a big difference. Ensure drivers have complete, readable copies of bills of lading and any permits. Keep trailers organized so inspectors can quickly verify cargo if needed. Build a bit of buffer time into schedules for potential stops, especially during busy seasons when inspection queues can lengthen. Security-wise, partnering with carriers that maintain strong equipment standards, secure yards, and vetted drivers lowers your exposure to cargo theft or tampering between origin and port. Treat these over-the-road segments as critical links in the Florida–Puerto Rico corridor, not just a shuttle run to the dock.
Temperature-Controlled and Life Sciences Freight
Puerto Rico’s export economy leans heavily on health-related products. More than 70% of the island’s total exports come from the pharmaceutical and medical device sector, which makes temperature-controlled logistics and careful handling absolutely central to its supply chains. For Florida shippers and logistics providers feeding that ecosystem, the stakes are high: a temperature excursion or handling mistake can destroy the value of an entire shipment and disrupt downstream production, distribution, or patient care.
Demand for these products is not static, either. In March 2024, the Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community projected that life sciences exports would grow at about 24% year-on-year over the following three years, signaling rapid expansion in volume and complexity across these lanes. That growth will put additional pressure on cold-chain capacity in Florida’s airports and seaports and increase competition for specialized equipment like reefer containers, active temperature-controlled containers, and validated storage space near terminals.
Any shipper moving temperature-sensitive or high-value medical cargo from Florida to Puerto Rico should plan more carefully than for standard dry freight. That means validating packaging solutions, confirming actual temperature-control capabilities (not just marketing promises) with carriers and forwarders, and building contingency plans for delays, diversions, or equipment failures. Clear standard operating procedures-covering handoffs between truckers, warehouses, carriers, and consignees-help keep responsibility visible at every step. Above all, start booking earlier, share forecasts when possible, and treat your logistics partners as part of the quality system, not just transportation vendors. Done well, the Florida–Puerto Rico lane can support reliable, compliant, and scalable life sciences supply chains for years to come.
