ISO 9001, C-TPAT, PIP, FAST, CSA, ACI, ACE, SmartWay, BBB and more. Here's what each credential means in plain language, and why it matters when you're choosing a carrier.
Carrier websites tend to show a row of logos and leave it at that. We want to explain ours, because each one tells you something about how your freight will be handled.
Kooner Transport Group is an asset-based trucking company in Ayr, Ontario, running Canada–U.S. freight since 2004. Here's what each of our credentials means and why it matters to a shipper.
Our credentials at a glance
- ISO 9001: independently audited quality management
- BBB Accredited, A+ rating: a trusted business since 2020
- CAMSC certified supplier: counts toward supplier diversity programs
- C-TPAT and PIP: the U.S. and Canadian supply-chain security programs
- FAST: access to dedicated fast lanes at the border
- CSA (Customs Self Assessment): simplified clearance into Canada
- ACI and ACE eManifest: customs data filed electronically before the truck arrives
- U.S. Customs bonded carrier: can move freight that hasn't cleared customs yet
- HAZMAT / dangerous goods certified: trained to haul regulated goods safely
- EPA SmartWay: fuel use and emissions measured and reported
ISO 9001: quality you can count on
ISO 9001 is the world's most widely used standard for quality management. A company earns it by showing an independent auditor that it has clear, written ways of doing its work, that it measures how well that work is done, and that it fixes problems so they don't happen again. The auditor comes back regularly, so the certification has to be kept up, not just earned once.
Why it matters to you: your load is handled the same careful way every time, not just when the most experienced dispatcher is on shift. If something goes wrong, there's a set process to find the cause and stop it from happening again.
BBB Accredited with an A+ rating
We've been a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business since March 2020 and hold an A+ rating. Accredited businesses commit to BBB's standards for honesty, transparency and responding to customer concerns.
Why it matters to you: it's an outside check on how we treat customers, and you can read our BBB profile yourself.
CAMSC certified supplier
The Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) certifies businesses that are majority owned and run by Indigenous or visible-minority Canadians. Many large companies track how much they buy from certified diverse suppliers.
Why it matters to you: if your company has a supplier diversity goal, freight you move with us can count toward it.
C-TPAT and PIP: supply-chain security
C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) is U.S. Customs and Border Protection's supply-chain security program. PIP (Partners in Protection) is the Canada Border Services Agency's version. The two programs recognize each other.
To join, a carrier has to meet strict security standards, including sealing and checking trailers, screening employees and protecting its yards and equipment, and it is checked by the government.
Why it matters to you: border officers treat members as lower risk, which usually means fewer inspections and less time waiting at the border. Your freight is also better protected from theft and tampering along the way.
FAST: the fast lane at the border
FAST (Free and Secure Trade) is a joint Canada–U.S. program. When the carrier and the driver are pre-approved (drivers carry a FAST card after a background check), trucks can use dedicated FAST lanes at busy crossings.
Why it matters to you: shorter border waits mean more on-time deliveries and fewer missed appointments. On a tight delivery window, an hour saved at the border can decide whether your freight arrives today or tomorrow.
CSA: Customs Self Assessment
CSA is a Canada Border Services Agency program that simplifies clearance for pre-approved importers, carriers and drivers bringing goods into Canada.
Why it matters to you: for eligible shipments, clearance into Canada is quicker and simpler, which keeps northbound freight moving.
ACI and ACE eManifest
Both countries require carriers to send cargo and truck details electronically before arriving at the border. Canada's system is ACI (Advance Commercial Information) eManifest, and the U.S. system is ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) eManifest. In most cases the information has to arrive at least an hour before the truck does.
We file both in-house, so we never wait on an outside service.
Why it matters to you: a missing or late eManifest is one of the most common reasons a truck gets held at the border. Filing in-house means fewer handoffs and quicker fixes if something needs correcting. Our guide to shipping from Ontario to the USA covers the paperwork in more detail.
U.S. Customs bonded carrier
A bonded carrier is allowed to move goods "in bond," meaning before customs duties are paid and the goods are formally cleared. For example, freight can travel from the border to a customs office closer to its final destination and clear there.
Why it matters to you: it gives you more options for where and when your freight clears customs, and it can keep a shipment moving while paperwork is finalized.
HAZMAT and dangerous goods certified
Moving regulated goods such as some chemicals, fuels and batteries requires trained drivers, proper placards, correct shipping documents and emergency response information, under Canada's Transportation of Dangerous Goods rules and U.S. hazmat rules.
Why it matters to you: we can haul your regulated freight legally and safely, so you don't need a separate carrier for those loads.
EPA SmartWay
SmartWay is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program (run in Canada by Natural Resources Canada). Partner carriers report their fuel use and emissions every year, and shippers use that data to choose more efficient carriers and to report on their own supply chain emissions.
Why it matters to you: if your company tracks its carbon footprint, our SmartWay data helps you report it. And a fuel-efficient fleet helps keep rates steady when diesel prices climb.
Common questions
Is Kooner Transport Group ISO 9001 certified?
Yes. Kooner Transport Group is ISO 9001 certified, which means our quality management system is checked by an independent auditor.
Does KTG use FAST lanes at the Canada–U.S. border?
Yes. KTG is a FAST-approved carrier and is also a member of C-TPAT and PIP, which together help freight clear the border quickly.
Can KTG haul dangerous goods across the border?
Yes. KTG is HAZMAT and dangerous goods certified for loads between Canada and the United States.
Who files the customs eManifests for my load?
We do. KTG files ACI eManifests (for Canada) and ACE eManifests (for the U.S.) in-house for every border crossing.
Talk to us
Want to see how our credentials fit your freight? Call our 24/7 dispatch team at 519-465-8553 or request a quote.