Canada Need Canadian border crossing info.
- Thread starter tv121591
- Start date
did you call Canada Customs and enquire? They are more then helpful. You'll need a cargo control number from them anyways so ASK them the procedure.
I take it you're running under your own authority rather than being signed on to a carrier.
I've never heard of a 6 times per year limit on non-PARS entries. I don't do manual crossings very often but that's what you'll have to do until you get set up for PARS. When doing a manual crossing, make sure you fill out an A8A form in advance so you can give it to the customs officer at the booth before heading in to the broker. If you don't have any of these forms, get some. You can get sample forms from the brokers that show you how to fill out the forms.
By the way, there's two kinds of A8A form. The non-bar coded one is generic and anyone can use it. The bar coded one has a carrier code on it and can only be used by that carrier. If you're running under your own authority, you need to get a carrier code assigned to you by Canada Customs. The same code will appear on your PARS barcodes when you get those.
While we're on the subject of authorities, I don't think you can legally run in Canada without one. Just like you need various authorities and permits for the various states you operate in, you'll need various authorities and permits for each province you intend to operate in. I wouldn't want to get caught at an inspection station without them.
Are you a completely independent operator, or do you get loads from other carriers? If, for example, you're doing a load for Landstar as a "partner carrier" or whatever they call it, you may be able to use their PARS and PAPS bar codes for that particular load. I'm not sure about that, but it's something to look into.
By the way, although we all still call it "Canada Customs", the government seems to like changing around and renaming their various ministries every few years and the official name is currently the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Their website is http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html and their phone number is 1-800-461-9999.
I've never heard of a 6 times per year limit on non-PARS entries. I don't do manual crossings very often but that's what you'll have to do until you get set up for PARS. When doing a manual crossing, make sure you fill out an A8A form in advance so you can give it to the customs officer at the booth before heading in to the broker. If you don't have any of these forms, get some. You can get sample forms from the brokers that show you how to fill out the forms.
By the way, there's two kinds of A8A form. The non-bar coded one is generic and anyone can use it. The bar coded one has a carrier code on it and can only be used by that carrier. If you're running under your own authority, you need to get a carrier code assigned to you by Canada Customs. The same code will appear on your PARS barcodes when you get those.
While we're on the subject of authorities, I don't think you can legally run in Canada without one. Just like you need various authorities and permits for the various states you operate in, you'll need various authorities and permits for each province you intend to operate in. I wouldn't want to get caught at an inspection station without them.
Are you a completely independent operator, or do you get loads from other carriers? If, for example, you're doing a load for Landstar as a "partner carrier" or whatever they call it, you may be able to use their PARS and PAPS bar codes for that particular load. I'm not sure about that, but it's something to look into.
By the way, although we all still call it "Canada Customs", the government seems to like changing around and renaming their various ministries every few years and the official name is currently the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Their website is http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html and their phone number is 1-800-461-9999.
Bar coded A8A's are a requirement.