Canada

My thinking is that when the approved seal is applied by/at the approved/trusted shipper that gives a level of confidence the load hasn't been tampered with.

I've crossed without a seal many times in both directions. I have entered the US and been asked if there was a seal on more than one occasion when there was not which is why I questioned the statement that they were required. A little googling clearly shows that a seal is not required, it also shows that for a load to be cleared through FAST an approved seal is required.

 

Well they asked, so i assumed they asked because it was required. Meh.

I always questioned the point of bolt seals in the first place.

But you do have to be prepared because if customs opens the trailer, the re-seal will be a bolt (CA) or cable (US)..

 

I know most of the daytime customs officers in detroit, cause i crossed so much....hell, one time i remember, i pulled up, guys like "hey man! whats up?" of course, im normally real formal with these guys, i just say "hello"

one time i crossed into Champlain, NY empty, they kept asking if i bought anything in canada...ok, go inside...the guy starts asking me if i bought anything in canada repeatedly...then asks me for $10.75 and clears me...lol.

what the hell is with the $10.75 anyway? How can they charge you for being a dick to you?

 

Charge for bringing a truck back.

Told them several times, that one of these days I might not want to keep buying the truck and they could have it.

 

you can purchase a transponder for $100/year. If you make 8 plus trips across to Canada and back to US, it's paid for.

 

True.

But my company will not pay for the transponder. It will reimburse me for the money I spend returning to the US.

 

This is part of why i left the company i was working for. They had the transponders and refused to give me one. I made 8+ trips in a two week period quite often.

No, i have been crossing for less than a year.

 

It was $100 years ago. It's now $205.00

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/user_fee/2010_fee_increase.xml

 

Cross to the US on a flatbed. There's much less hassle. The most they'll do is ask you to pull back the tarp a bit to see under it. Not once in my years of driving did they ever do a full search of my truck. Just the usual look around inside. But, maybe it's because I'm just so #### likeable.