Step-By-Step Guide to CrossBorder Freight
shipping from Canada to USA
Asoneoftheworld’smostopenborders,theCanada/U.S.borderisaveritablegoldminefor trade,withover$700billioningoodsbeingshippedbackandforthbetweenthetwo countries.Noneofthathappenswithoutadherencetostrict–andconstantlyshifting–regulationsenactedonbothsidesofthe49th parallel.Over60percentofthatismovedvia groundtransportationalongroadwaysinprovincesandstates,whichmeanscustoms paperwork,carrierpaperwork,securityclearances,tariffs,andmanymoreadministrative andbureaucraticneeds.Tomakesenseofitall,here’sanoverviewofthestepsrequired for shipping from Canada to USA.
Theultimategoalisthedeliverflawless,stressfreeshippingtocustomers.That’swhat3PL providershopetoachieve.Thereareafewimportantthingstoknowpriortoputtingthe wheelsinmotionsfigurativelyandliterally. Firstofall,documentationisvitally important. Youwillhavetwogovernmentalcomplianceorganizationstosatisfy–theU.S. CustomsandBorderProtection(CBP),andCanadianBorderServicesAgency(CBSA). You don’twanttogetonthebadsideofeitherifyouhavedesiresofgettingyourloadtowhere
itneedstobe.Eventheslightestflawinyourdocumentationcouldsendyoubacktoyour pointoforigin.Noonewantstogetheldupatcustoms.They’regenuinelyasurelybunch andnotveryforgivingwhenitcomestomistakesattheborder.Toavoidsuchhassles,it’s wisetohireacustomsbroker.Youhireadentisttofixyourteeth;whynothireacustoms brokerwhenmovinggoodsthroughcustoms.Bothcanbeequallypainful,butthecustoms brokercanhelpyoubetterdealwiththingsliketaxes,tariffs,andthenuancesofAmerican andCanadiancustomslaws.It’salsoimportanttogettherightcustomsbroker.Ifyou’re haulingfood,medicines,electronics,oranyotherspecificitem,youwantacustomsbroker whohasexpertiseinthatarea.Finally,makesureyouhaveagroundtransportationpartner withexperienceincrossbordershipping.Yourdriverisyourambassador;yourtrucking companyisyourally.Makesureyou’reallinsyncpriortorollingariguptothatcustoms inspectionstationattheborder
NowcomesthehardpartofshippingfromCanadatotheUSA–actuallygoingthroughthe borderandcustomsclearance.Herearesomestepsyouwillundoubtablyhavetogo throughforasuccessfultripthereandback.
• Step1:Preparationoftheshipment.Therearemanyelementstothis.For startersyouwillneedabusinessnumberbeforeyoucanimportorexportany commercialgoodsinoroutofCanada.Additionally,youwillalsoneedan EmployeeIdentificationNumberobtainedthroughtheIRSwhenshippinginto theUSA
• Step2:Youhavetoclearlyindicatewhatitisyou’reshipping.Thisishelpfulfor tariffclassificationbutalsoforprovidingcustomspeoplewithclear,concise informationonwhat’scrossingtheborder.Therecanbenosurprisesorno misunderstandings.FreightshippinginCanadaisfarlessstressfulwhenyou followthisdirection.
• Putyourcustomsbrokertowork.Youhiredthemtohandlethingslikegathering andpreparingdocuments,respondingtocustomsconcerns,andadministering theprocesstheentireway.Ifthey’regood,theywillearntheirmoney.
• Identifythecountryoforiginfromwhichyourgoodscame.Someproductsfrom somecountriesmaynotbeallowedintoothercountries.ThinkBritishbeef duringtheMadCowscare.
• Identifyanypermits,restrictionsorregulationstowhichyourshipmentmaybe subject.BothUSAandCanadahaveproductstheydodon’tallowtoenterthe country.Ifyou’reshippinggunsandcannabis,chancesarethere’sgoingtobe someissues.TheCBPhasstrictrulesinplaceformanyagriculturalproducts, armsandammunition,foodanddrugs.TheCBSAhasalistofprohibitedor restricteditemsincludingliveanimals,energyexports,culturalproperty,plants andseeds.Sufficeittosay,bothcountries’willwanttheirrulesenforcedtothe fullextentwithnoexceptions.
• Allyourgoodswillhavetobeclassified.Thishelpsregulatorsonbothsides identifythepropertarifftobeappliedtotheshipment.Tariffscanchangeatthe whimofgovernmentsdespitebothcountriesbeingpartofthetradeagreement. Newgovernmentshavetheirownwayofdealingwiththings.
• Determinedutiesandtaxes.Onceyouhaveyourclassificationnumber,youcan starttodevelopaballparkfigureofwhatyoumightbepaying.Federaltaxesand
feesvarydependingonproductsbeingshipped.Somegoodsaresubjecttostate orprovincialtaxes.
• Shipthegoods.Unlessyou’reoperatingyourownfleetoftransportationcarriers, you’llhavetoplaceyourorderwithatruckingcompanyorperhapsan experience3PLserviceprovider.A3PLlikeNATSCanadaworkswithavast networkofcarriersacrossbothCanadaandtheUSA.Workingthroughyour broker,youcanhavethe3PLsubmitalltherequisitepaperworktoensureyou areincompliancewithcustomsrequiredtogetyourshipmentacrosstheborder.
WorkingwithshippingcompaniesinTorontoyoucanfindabondedcarrierthatcanenter theUSAorCanadafromanycustomsservicepoint. NATS Canada isarespectedand experienced3PLthatcanguideyouthroughallthesestepsrequiredtogetyourgoods wherethey’reheaded.Gettingyourgoodsacrosstheborderrequiresmorethanjustagood shippinglevel.WorkwiththeprofessionalsatNATSCanada.
Source: https://marketguest.com/step-by-step-guide-to-cross-border-freight/