US carrier heading into Canada questions.. what do I need?

Hows it in Canada eh
Anyone catch the hockey game last night
I sure as hell didnt eh
I was on the road

 

cold
no
eh?
really now?

 

thanks eh
go canucks ... not
what do you think of the Thrashers in Winnepeg, eh

 

Apply for the FAST card by talking to your Driver Leader or your terminal's Canada Driver Coordinator.
Short of that, you can go across with passports, but be warned that many misdemeanors here in the U.S. are felonies in Canada. Even old ones. And both of you need passports if you have a passenger. And paperwork for pets. If you have anything like unpaid child support, dui's over 35 years ago, domestic abuse or harrasment, anything you were arrested for, you should go through the FAST card application process.
That way, you get to interview with U.S. and Canadian Customs in a setting where you don't end up in a Canadian prison with your truck and load impounded while you wait to complete Canadian rehabilitation for the U.S. offense. And if the infractions are old enough, they'll deem you rehabilitated and let you in, depending on the infraction.
Once you get that, or if you decide not to get it but go on with a passport, make sure that you have the broker information, put a PARS (if it's a PARS load, there are multiple types of loads) sticker on the paperwork, a note as to when and where you will be crossing (use the Canadian port info, like Coutts), and fax it to the broker.
Then call the broker at least 2 hours before you intend to cross to make sure the paperwork cleared. They'll typically give you a confirmation number.
At Coutts, and at Kingsgate, do NOT set the truck brakes at the booth. They get pretty p.o.'d about that. Kingsgate will often xray your truck just inside the U.S. border when coming back to the U.S.. Give them the FAST card or passport and the Bills. They'll check it and stamp it, or send you to the parking area and have you go inside to the customs station to have your background checked and ask more questions about your arrest history.
After that, you go to the transportation side and get the bills stamped.
If they don't send you inside, they'll stamp it at the booth.
Either way, you have to go through the scales if they are open. If the lights on the sign are flashing, the weigh station is open. That goes for all the weigh stations in Canada, some of which are self-weigh, by the way.
Flag the border crossing and send your PARS macro.

Logs have the same entries, but you have to make the following additional entries on each one (oh, and have the previous 14 days worth of paper logs available at all times; they can ask to see them anywhere from the border to gietting back into the U.S.):
Truck license plate number, Trailer license plate number, put Cycle 1 or 70/7 over the 7 previous days column, have the BOL#, shipper name, commodity description (like 'paper bales') in the remarks section of your log, print your name under your signature, and you'll have to make another line to check under your post trip check box. One for pretrip, one for posttrip, and sign once over the inspection line and once under after checking the appropriate box.
Make sure you do an inspection and fill out the paper inspection report as soon as (or just before ) you cross, and you have to have one for each day while in Canada.
Other than that, you'll find the roads cleaner, drivers more tolerant, and I use my debit card instead of cash for expenses. Don't speed, and get used to using the km settings on your speedometer.
The only other thing I can think of off-hand is that you do have to ensure that you comply with Canada's overhang (think bridge) law. For a 53' trailer, have the center of your tandems at the the 41 foot mark, and no farther back.
You can have heavier axle weights in Canada, but if you pick up a heavy load in Canada using that rule, remember that once you cross back into the U.S. with that load, you have to be in U.S. compliance.
While qualcomm now lets you print logs if you go through the website portal, I personally would just use paper. The printed (for Canada) version is in my opinion in no shape that I'd be happy to hand to a weighmaster or RCMP officer. It looks like garbage, but that's a whole other issue not for this forum.

Oh, and never, ever, EVER go under anything marked 4.2m or lower. 4.2m is 13'9", and 4.1m is 13'5". Burn that somewhere so you NEVER forget it. Just like in the U.S., depending on tire heat and road surface and road surface, you might or might not fit under an overpass marked 13'6", so 4.2m is the magic number for Canada.

Hope this sheds some light. Other than that, enjoy the scenery and have a safe trip.

 

I did forget re-entry in the U.S.

An ACE manifest is required on just about everything except an empty trailer, but again, there are 3 types of inbound U.S. loads.
For the ACE, fill it out and either the shipper or you will fax it to the U.S. point of contact.
Again, you'll have to call to get a confirmation number an hour or two prior to entry to the U.S..
It does cost 10.75 (U.S. cash) to get back into the U.S. Save the reciept for reimbursement.

 

OK, I have IRP, IFTA, clean passport, and can get the broker's export paperwork done. But, there are a few other items I need clarification on:

1. How do I file the insurance form?

2. I understand the truck needs to be governed to 65mph max. How can I do this, but turn it off when I return to the USA? (I've got a Volvo with a Cummins ISX motor) Isn't there some kind of gadget I can use?

3. What's the "ACE" manifest?

4. There must be something else on the list that's forgotten...

 

1) Your insurance agent/broker is responsable for filing the paperwork BC specifically requires it OR you buy a $60.00 permit. Get a copy of what they file so you have proof.
2) Yes, if you go to Ontario OR Quebec your truck needs to be castrated to be compliant. If you have Cummins software and laptop you can do it your self.
3)ACE Manifest is for US Customs when coming into the US with a load. You hire a provider to do your ACE Manifest and submit it to US Customs. NEVER cross the border until you have a release number from your provider....NEVER! NO ACE required if you are MT.
4) Ontario requires a"Schedule 1" vehicle inspection and this is where they grab LOTS of guys. Make sure you have a copy of a "Schedule 1" vehicle inspection.

 

You also must carry last t 14 days logs with you

 

A re-set/re-start in/for Canada is 36 hours NOT 34>LOTS of drivers get messed over on this one.

 

alberta and saskatchewan require "schedule 1" also. not sure about bc.