FIT - Export Fee Claiming

Florida International Terminal (FIT) will be implementing a new process for export fees beginning on February 1st, 2025. Below are the main aspects enhancements this new process provides:

1. Invoice Driven - charges roll up into one invoice per payment period
2. Enhanced Charge Visibility - easily view current and upcoming invoices
3. Support for Autopay - it now takes only one visit to the eModal site to create appointments and settle fees
4. Improved Notifications - stay informed of when invoices are generated, due, and settled

This article covers many new functionalities such as:

1. Export Booking Claims
2. Payment Source Management (no change to functionality within the new process)
3. Invoice Viewing
4. Manual Invoice Payment
5. Invoice Autopay Setup

Export Booking Fee Claims

"What does claiming a booking fee mean?"

To claim a booking is to be responsible for the fees associated with the containers that are gated in under that booking. Export booking fees must be claimed in order for a trucking company to secure an appointment.

How to Claim Bookings

Bookings can be claimed through the Bookings page within eModal through two ways:

Option #1 (preferred)

1. Input the booking(s) to the Bookings watchlist
2. Select the booking(s) by using the check boxes on the left hand side
3. Select the Action dropdown and hit Claim Fees
4. Select the fees you would like to claim and hit Submit 
5. Once claimed, a green informational circle will be displayed next to the booking status - hover to show that it reads "Claimed at FIT"

Option #2

1. Navigate to the Bookings page
2. Select Add Claims
3. Input the Facility
4. Input which fee type you would like to claim
   1. Please note that only one fee type is able to be selected from this window, but the other may be added in the next page
   2. XSEC = Export Security; XSCALE = Export Scale
5. Input the booking number(s)
6. Confirm the information on the next page that is displayed and select Submit
7. Once claimed, a green informational circle will be displayed next to the booking status - hover to show that it reads "Claimed at FIT'

How to Unclaim a Booking (Removing Claims)

Important Note: Bookings can only be unclaimed BEFORE a container has gated in against that booking. Once an in gate event has occurred, the claim cannot be removed. If an appointment already exists against a booking with claimed fees, the appointment will be cancelled when the claim is removed.

Occasionally, users may need to unclaim a booking. In this scenario:

1. Navigate to the Bookings page
2. Select the View My Claims button
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3. From here, users will see a list of all active claims
4. Select the check box to the left of the booking number
5. Select Unclaim

Payment Source Management

Payment sources can be created, and managed, through the Payment Source Management page under the Administration tab in eModal. 

Please note that by default only company administrators have access to manage payment sources. However, admins can provide specific access to other affiliated users through the use of Security Groups. Please see our video overview titled "Setting Up Security Groups" for more information.

Creating a Payment Source

1. From the Payment Source Management page, click the red '+' button on the right hand side (1)
2. Within this page, click the Select Company dropdown (2) and select the desired company
3. Input the card and billing information
4. Select Next
5. Review and confirm the information provided and select Confirm to save the payment source

Sharing Payment Sources

As multiple users within a company may need to pay export fee invoices, eModal has included functionality to share a payment source even if a user did not register it themselves (no card or account data is shared - only access to use the source).

For example, if a shipper/BCO needs to share a payment source with a trucking company user, the below process can be used as long as the trucking company user is affiliated to the shipper/BCO's company.

To share a payment source with another user:

1. Navigate to the Payment Source Management page
2. Locate the payment source you would like to share and select the Share icon on the right hand side
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3. Users will be presented with the payment source information and users who are currently authorized to use it
4. Type in the name of the user with whom you would like to share the source and select them from the dropdown list
5. Select Share

View Invoices

Both Invoices and Upcoming Charges can be viewed from the Invoice Payments page under the eModal Community Portal tab.

 

Once a container gates into the terminal under a booking that you have claimed, the fees will be placed in the Upcoming Charges tab.

Once the invoice is generated, which will be done on a daily basis for FIT, these charges will be moved to the Invoice section of the page. From here, you are able to view all invoice details and export the invoice to a PDF via the two respective icons next to the description.

 

Manual Invoice Payment

To pay an invoice:

1. Select the desired company for which you wish to view invoices
2. Select the Invoice dropdown menu
3. Select the invoices you would like to pay by using the check box on the left hand side
4. Select the desired payment source
5. Select Proceed to Checkout to continue to the payment cart
6. You can also select the PDF icon to view and download the selected invoice

 

Invoice Autopay and Notification Setup

Enable Weekly Invoice Notifications

To best assist with invoice payment reminders, eModal has implemented an optional weekly invoice notification functionality. To opt in for such reminders,

1. Navigate to the Payment Source Management page
2. Select the Invoice Payment Profile tab in the top left corner
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3. Locate the desired company and open the dropdown information
4. Select the Enable weekly invoice notification toggle so it is green and to the right hand side
5. Select the day of the week that is preferred for notifications to be received

 

Enable Invoice Autopay

1. Navigate to the Payment Source Management page
2. Select the Invoice Payment Profile tab in the top left corner
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3. Locate the desired company and open the dropdown information
4. Select the Enable automatic payment toggle so it is green and to the right hand side
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