I live in the Dakotas and am in the process of obtaining my passport so I can drive into Canada once in a while. I've heard there are a few US companies that pay more for truckers who can go into Canada or Mexico. How much is it an "edge" for having a US passport, and have you seen companies in the upper Midwest on the lookout for those that can cross the border?
Advantages of having a passport
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by skyfalls, May 15, 2026 at 11:53 PM.
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nextgentrucker and Bud A. Thank this.
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Most likely Bison would like it, and some of the Washington, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota and Wisconsin companies besides those in the Dakotas. I haven't gone into Canada since the coof, and wouldn't now, since there's no telling when they might try to force vaccination on drivers again. But some people don't mind that sort of thing, so if it doesn't bother you, go for it. Canada loads never paid that much more but it was pleasant enough to visit. I did loads into and out of B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. And I wouldn't even think about going into Mexico with a truck. My brother lived there for years and got out a dozen years ago because it was unsafe pretty much everywhere, and a coworker who grew up there and learned to drive a truck there agreed.nextgentrucker and skyfalls Thank this.
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ATS out of Minnesota did in 07. It was something like $250 extra for a company driver to cross. I would do short hops, from RedmondWA to VancouverBC for weeks at a time. Easy job delivering Genie man lifts to various United Rentals in BC.
nextgentrucker, North Pole Nightmare, Bud A. and 1 other person Thank this. -
Thank you. I never understood what the reasoning was for pushing vax on drivers since you are mostly solo and isolated anyway. I haven't checked the requirements for entering Canada as far as the vaccinations go. I refuse to get one, but I do believe you can opt to get an antibody test in place of the vax and show the documentation.
I have a friend who refuses to cross the border into Mexico after a scary experience with corrupt police. I've never been to Mexico but I'd like to visit. I'm female and would be traveling solo so id follow the travel advisotites like not traveling at night and staying on main roads.Bud A. Thanks this. -
Ignorance is bliss, until it bites you on the back side.
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Iirc, the most I ever got for crossing was $50 per trip delivering tanker loads, phosphoric acid to Edmonton, grape juice to a wine place in Quebec. I think it was $50 for flatbed loads with System, too. No more than $100 anyway.TripleSix Thanks this.
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I read you can opt out of the presidents picture on a new passport, but then lookout,,
I told my daughter, who travels all over, sorry peanut, I have absolutely no reason to leave the good ol' USA!
homeskillet Thanks this. -
I was on a percentage contract as a company shmuck. Percentage pay for short hops was great.Bud A. Thanks this.
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Plenty of companies cross the border. Your best bet in the Dakotas would be finding a hopper company to run for if you want steady cross border runs. Go a little farther west and you’d have flatbeds and hopper trains. Dick Irvin out of Shelby MT runs pneumatics cross border steadily. The downside to bringing fertilizer out of Canada is they don’t have any Ag exemptions up there so you lose out on the 150 mile radius.
Bud A. Thanks this. -
You can get a passport,or just the passport card.Its worth it if your company hauls frieght into Canada occasionally,or regularly.
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