First trip into Canada

If it came down to it, I'd abandon the load. No way would I ever abandon my dog.

 

We bring loads into Quebec 2-3 times a week, it's really no big deal. Your dispatcher will need to email/fax your LEADS sheet to a truck stop along the way. You need to have a printed copy with you to give to the Canadian customs agent. I'm under the assumption that your dispatchers know how to do all the customs paperwork and what customs broker to sent it to. Most of the big customs brokers have an online clearance lookup to make sure your actually cleared to cross. Do NOT go to the border until you know your cleared to cross by Canadian customs. Livingston has an app you can down load onto your phone. Just put in your PARS number and you can see if your clear. I know crossing into Canada at Sarnia, DO NOT set your brakes and shut your truck off. If you set your brakes, you will have hell to pay for. I don't know how it is at Quebec, but if there is a sign in the window to "not set brakes" you need to follow that.

The only paperwork you need to show the Canadian border agent is your passport and your LEADS sheet. Other then that, answer some questions. Ie: where are you going, how long will you be in the country, do you have any weapons etc.

When you are leaving Canada and coming back into the States, 99.99999995% of the time the only thing the US customs needs is your passport. Unless they ask for your BOL or LEADS sheet, do not offer it to them. Answer a couple of questions and be on your way.

As far as the fee/toll to get back into the States, I only know about crossing at Port Huron, that's like $13.00 and needs to be paid online. I never had to cross at one of the crossing from Quebec.

Over all, it's really no big deal, just make sure you are clear to cross.

 

No matter where I crossed, the US customs officer insisted I have my inward cargo manifest(form 7533), even for an empty A-frame glass trailer. Some let you slide without one but Champaign had a hissey fit if you didn't have one completely filled out prior to arrival. Seemed stupid to me, a clearly empty open frame trailer and they would still ask what I was hauling and still insist I had the manifest.

 

Agreed, all 5 US border crossings I have encountered required more than just a passport. The more lenient ones won't kick up a stink about having the correct form filled out, but they will at the very least want your tractor and trailer plate numbers and if you don't have those to hand you are now setting your brakes and making the walk of shame around your truck to write those down.

They get really crabby if you have to do that. Expect a trip through the X-ray machine as a token of their appreciation.

 

I had them X-ray an empty double drop A-frame glass trailer when I crossed into the thousand island POE. I just smiled and said yes sir, have a good afternoon. I think some of those guys do it just to see if they can get a rise out of a driver...or else a certain percentage of trucks have to be x-rayed per day and they knew that I was gonna be in and out and on my way in a flash.

 

Trucks use fake compartments that’s why they X-ray empty or loaded . They make quite a few busts a year at the border .

 

that's the item I was thinking of....We used to have tablets of 'em.
Frequent crossings bought a decal, now I see there is a transponder...things change

 

They still checking for proof of poke before they let you through either direction?

 

That must be a Champaign thing. I ran alcohol to Toronto 3 times a week during Covid and we still run chemicals to Toronto now, no one at Port Huron has any idea what a form 7533 is. For 2 years I crossed Port Huron 3 times a week and was never once x-rayed, maybe I just had good luck. Maybe it helped I was pulling a tanker, we’ll never know. To this day, non of my drivers have been x-rayed at any port.
I asked one of my driver earlier about crossing back into the US and as of last week, Port Huron only wanted a passport and if the customs fee was paid, no other paperwork. I’m starting to think it’s a NE thing.