Cross-border trucking between Canada and the USA
Supreme Trux moves freight between Ontario and the United States, northbound and southbound. Send the shipment details and your customs broker's name, and we plan the border crossing with them.
How does cross-border trucking work?
A truck crossing between Canada and the United States carries the freight and its paperwork to the border. Before it arrives, the carrier sends an electronic manifest to customs, and the importer's customs broker submits the release information. At the border, officers match the two and release the truck, inspect it, or send it for more checks.
Two parties share the work. The carrier is responsible for the truck, the driver and the manifest. Your customs broker is responsible for clearing the goods: classifying them, paying duties and taxes for the importer, and getting the release. Problems at the border almost always come from the two not having the same information, so we ask for your broker's details when you book.
What documents does a cross-border shipment need?
- A commercial invoice listing the seller, buyer, description, quantity, value and country of origin of the goods (into Canada, a Canada Customs Invoice or a commercial invoice with the same details)
- The bill of lading signed at pickup
- Your customs broker's name and contact, so we can send them the shipment number
- Proof of origin if the goods qualify for duty-free treatment under CUSMA
- Any permits the product needs, for example for food, plants or controlled goods
Send copies when you request the quote. Missing or mismatched paperwork is the most common reason a truck is held at the border.
What happens at the border in each direction?
Into Canada, the carrier files an ACI eManifest with the Canada Border Services Agency, and CBSA must receive it at least one hour before the truck arrives. Into the United States, the carrier files an ACE eManifest with US Customs and Border Protection. In both directions the importer's broker submits the customs entry separately.
| Step | Into Canada (northbound) | Into the USA (southbound) |
|---|---|---|
| Customs agency | Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) | US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
| Carrier's manifest | ACI eManifest, received at least 1 hour before arrival | ACE eManifest, sent before the truck arrives at the port |
| Broker's release | Usually under PARS (Pre-Arrival Review System) | Usually under PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) |
| Who pays duties and taxes | The importer of record, through its broker | The importer of record, through its broker |
Rules from the CBSA pre-arrival requirements for highway carriers. Your customs broker confirms the details for your goods.
How to get a cross-border shipment ready
- Choose a customs broker on the importing side, if you don't already have one, and tell them a shipment is coming.
- Prepare the commercial invoice with a full description of every item. "Parts" or "samples" is not enough.
- Send us the invoice, the broker's contact and the pickup details when you request the quote.
- We send the shipment number to your broker so the release can be filed before the truck reaches the border.
- Keep a contact available on pickup day in case the broker or the border has a question.
For the freight itself, the same options apply as for domestic shipments: LTL freight for a few pallets, a full truckload for larger loads, and temperature-controlled trucking for perishable goods.
Cross-border shipping FAQ
Do I need a customs broker to ship freight between Canada and the USA?
In practice, yes. Commercial shipments need a customs entry on the importing side, and almost every importer uses a licensed customs broker to file it, pay duties and taxes, and get the goods released. If you don't have one, ask us when you request the quote.
What is ACI eManifest?
ACI eManifest is Canada's advance information rule for trucks. The highway carrier sends the cargo and conveyance details to the Canada Border Services Agency electronically, and CBSA must receive and validate them at least one hour before the truck arrives at the border.
What are PARS and PAPS numbers?
They are shipment reference numbers that link the carrier's manifest to the customs broker's release. PARS is used for goods entering Canada and PAPS for goods entering the United States. The carrier puts the number on its paperwork, and the broker uses it to file the release before the truck arrives.
Who pays duties and taxes on a cross-border shipment?
The importer of record, usually through its customs broker. Goods that qualify under CUSMA, the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement, can enter free of duty with proof of origin, but sales taxes such as GST can still apply. Your broker confirms the amounts for your goods.
Why do trucks get held at the border?
Most holds come from paperwork: a vague description on the commercial invoice, a release that the broker hasn't filed yet, or numbers that don't match between the manifest and the broker's entry. Complete documents sent at booking prevent most of them.
Other ways to ship
Shipping across the border?
Send the details and your broker's contact online, or call dispatch at 647-677-0024.