Trucking permits to transport cargo from the US to Canada

Transporting cargo from the United States to Canada brings a significant advantage that could benefit your company’s financial stability. We share several recommendations to process the necessary trucking regulatory permits for your vehicles to spread transport routes and obtain greater profits.

Canada divides into provinces, and carriers must show identification with a registry that varies depending on the province. Our first recommendation is to be clear about the province through which the carrier will enter Canada. Additionally, there are several requirements that you must have up to date to avoid problems at the border and transport merchandise from the US to Canada without any inconvenience.

If you are a carrier interested in transporting loads from the US to Canada, you must be clear that you can request a temporary and annual transport permit.

To request a temporary transportation permit

1. Province registration

It is registering your company in the specific province where you will operate so that you can do it legally. The registration requirements may vary according to each province. Still, in general terms, they usually have an address, a post office box, or a telephone number in the province where you will work.

Provincial requirements that you must keep in mind

A couple of provinces require US-based companies to complete provincial security checks.

The first is Ontario: in this case, you must have an Ontario Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR).

The second is Quebec: you must obtain a Registration Identification Number (RIN) for this second case.

Likewise, both provinces require certain speed limits to comply with 105 km/h (65 mph).

2. PARS labels

The pars stickers function as a pre-arrival review system to speed up merchandise scanning from the USA to Canada. The carrier needs the PARS labels to deliver the loads in Canada.

To request an annual Canada trucking permit

1. CBSA Code

Before entering Canada, you must request a carrier code from the CBSA, a unique identifier consisting of four characters that the CBSA assigns to identify each carrier. Carriers must have printed barcodes to adhere to BOLs (travel documents). These codes can be printed at any of the companies suggested by the CBSA. The reason for this process is to guarantee the vehicle operates under legal custody. 

2. Canada Bond

Having the Canada Bond makes you an insured carrier. The Canada Bond is a document that guarantees to the government of Canada and the United States that any fee, tax, or tariff will be paid at the time it is requested without hindering the entry of the merchandise into the country of destiny.

The Canada Bond must be updated every year to avoid any restrictions and to be able to ensure the loads that enter Canada. Usually, its coverage is around USD 25,000, and it is required when importing commercial merchandise of more than USD 2,500.

Knowing and applying this, you will be able to accept more lucrative cross-border loads and thus boost the growth of your transport company.

***

Best provinces to transport loads in Canada

Canada is a country with a high demand for cargo transportation. The government has made efforts to increase the offer. To achieve this goal, several work permits have been implemented, helping more people to be eligible to operate within the country as truck drivers. The increase in annual imports to Canada from the United States occurs due to the demand for products such as automobiles, machinery, precious metal scrap, plastic, and prepared foods. The United States is one of the leading food suppliers for the neighboring country.

Some Canadian provinces stand out due to higher demand and better benefits in the transportation industry. Among them are, for example:

Saskatchewan: In this province, drivers are mainly required for long-distance journeys, which translates into better payments.

British Columbia: The lawsuit focuses primarily on long-haul truckers and logging truck drivers.

Nova Scotia: Delivery truck drivers, heavy truck drivers, and cement mixer drivers are commonly sought after in this area.

Inspection of the equipment conditions

If you have a transport company with several drivers, you must evaluate the case of each trucker crossing the border and inform them about the entire procedure to enter. In addition to this, the equipment must be inspected to verify the weight conditions. As a general rule of thumb, the limits of the GVW (gross vehicle weight) and the weight of the axle are usually higher in Canada; therefore, any equipment or cargo that complies with the regulations established by the FMCSA in the United States will be equally legal to operate transporting cargo in Canada.

On the other hand, the length must be taken into account since although most trailer configurations are allowed in the United States; some still need to be, hence the importance of verifying this data when it is being prepared the journey to Canada.

In summary

Freight transport to Canada is beneficial to boost the growth of your business. However, it is essential that when scheduling the trips, you keep in mind all the requirements and documents that you must have up to date to cross the border without any inconvenience. To avoid reprocessing, you must have the advice and help of permit professionals to process the Canada Trucking Permit; this way, it will be much easier and faster.