Going to Calgary for the first time.

i have no idea regarding your questions but your posts are generally readable so let us know how it goes. in all my years i have not made it that far north. i need to before i get out of trucking-

 

Calgary has a lil bit of bad traffic...but its not like u.s.a traffic... It actually moves...and its about the same size as Oklahoma city

 

It pretty much works like crossing into Ontario i.e. Customs, etc. No money to cross in, but you need the $10.75 (or transponder) to get back into the U.S.. It's definitely not as busy as the big U.S../Ontario crossings, but if I remember right it IS a training port for Canadian Customs; so you might have a better chance to get pulled in for inspection. Calgary IS smaller than Toronto, but traffic there can still be a hassle at times. All in all it should be easier than Toronto, but cold.

 

1.3 million people, supposed to be in the mid fifties this weekend, kinda like Denver for weather, can change quickly. Lots of traffic at rush hour.

 

Been to Calgary many times but not through Coutts. Imagine the worst hold-up would be that they will want to interview you a little bit (how long are you staying, when do you pick up your next load, how many states/countries have you lived in, do you like boudin etc) maybe look inside the truck and trailer like they did me once. They even frisked my dog. Generally painless to get into the country.

 

Calgary gets the Chinooks off the mountains, and tends to be very temperate for that far north, as the other guy pointed out, a lot like Denver. Edmonton is another matter, you can stack pee in the winter, there!

Haven't crossed at Coutts since the pre-NAFTA days, when you had to walk up the hill to your broker and get paperwork. As with any other crossing, the Canadians are efficient and fairly laid back, coming back into the US they treat you like you just raped your momma.

 

Spend the night at the pilot in Shelby MT. Excellent bar and grill next door. If you want to stay in Calgary there is a Road King/Flying J/Shell truck stop that has a really good restaurant with kind of an eclectic menu.

Coutts isn't bad. I think the longest I've had to wait is about 10 or 15 mins. $10.75 like other places.

Where in Calgary are you going? I've delivered at a place called Engenium or something similar.

 

Calgary is no more expensive than anywhere else. Is this your destination or are you going through to someplace else?