Most border delays come down to paperwork. Here's what shippers need to have ready for a smooth Canada–U.S. truckload crossing, without the jargon.
About 70% of the freight we move crosses the Canada–U.S. border, so we've seen just about every way a crossing can go sideways. A missing invoice, a broker nobody told about the load, a piece count that doesn't match. Any one of them can leave a truck sitting at the border for hours.
The good news is that most of these problems are easy to avoid. Here's what you need to know.
ACE and ACI, explained simply
Before a truck reaches the border, the carrier has to send customs an electronic manifest (an "eManifest") describing the load.
- Heading into the U.S.? That's ACE, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection system. It's due at least an hour before the truck arrives, or 30 minutes for FAST shipments.
- Heading into Canada? That's ACI, the Canada Border Services Agency system. Same timing: an hour ahead, or 30 minutes for FAST.
We take care of the eManifest. What we need from you is accurate information, early.
What to have ready
Here's the paperwork that keeps a load moving:
- A commercial invoice. Who's buying, who's selling, what's in the shipment, how much of it, what it's worth and where it was made.
- Your customs broker's contact info, on both sides of the border if you use one.
- A bill of lading that matches the invoice. Same piece count, same weight, same description.
- Permits for anything regulated. Food needs FDA prior notice, and dangerous goods and controlled products have their own requirements.
- The PARS or PAPS number we give you. Your broker uses it to clear the shipment before the truck gets there.
Why it helps to use a trusted carrier
Both countries run programs that let pre-approved carriers through faster, with fewer inspections. When you're picking a carrier, ask whether they have:
- FAST (Free and Secure Trade): dedicated lanes at the busiest crossings.
- C-TPAT and PIP: the U.S. and Canadian supply-chain security programs.
- CBSA bonded carrier status: lets freight move in-bond before duties are paid.
We hold all of these, along with U.S. bonded carrier status.
The mistakes we see most often
If we had to pick the usual suspects behind border delays, it would be these:
- The invoice and the bill of lading don't agree on value, count or description.
- Nobody told the broker about the load, or the broker never got the paperwork.
- The PARS/PAPS label is missing, or the truck leaves the dock before the broker confirms clearance.
- The piece count or weight changes after the eManifest has already gone out.
Every one of these is fixable before the truck leaves your dock.
Crossing with us
We cross every day between Ontario and the U.S. Midwest and South. Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa and Wisconsin are some of our busiest destinations. We also wrote about how the new Gordie Howe Bridge is changing crossing times and costs.
Got a cross-border load coming up? Send us the details or call our 24/7 dispatch team at 519-465-8553.