First run to Canada

Oh man!!! That's certainly a truism, just the different personality of the whole process, let alone not being treated like a criminal.
Sorta funny in a twisted way; I cross from the Canadian Soo, back to the Mi. Soo every night, and every night I'm Xrayed, and I'm always empty, and the CBP even recognizes me, and I them. All they say anymore is, "You know the drill"! It's painless really, but, "Why always me", said in a high pitched nasally whine.

 

Speaking as a Canadian running a lot in the US, we must have a passport, FAST card optional. The US border guards put us through the wringer. "What do you have on? Where are you going? Do you have anything with you that you plan to leave in the US? Have you ever been arrested? Did you witness the trailer being loaded?" and my personal favorite, "Is there anything in the cab that you wouldn't want us to find?" Then you STILL have to either go through the scanner or pull into a dock and sit, sometimes both.

Coming back, it's usually "How long were you gone? Anything to declare?" and that's it.

 

Coming back from Winnipeg one time I chose the shorter route which was 59 diagonally through Minnesota. A legal truck route.

Pulled into US customs.

Why are you on this route?
Shortest route.

What port did you use the last time you came back from Canada?
Portal, ND.

Why did you not use it this time?
350 miles out of route.

Where were you born?
New York.

When you lived in New York, where did you live?
I never lived in New York.

You were born in New York, so where did you live?
Well, when I was born, I arrived in the base hospital in Rome, NY. We left town shortly after. So, I guess the address would be the hospital.

Pull over there, you are going to be searched.

Destroyed the interior of the truck. I blocked the area putting it back together and when leaving Saluted him with Heil Hitler.

Called my father and asked where we lived on the base and he said he has no clue it was 52 years ago.

 

The Border Nazis in Detroit are the worst ones I've encountered. I've been screamed at, ignored for hours on end, threatened with not allowing entry, and just plain the rudest most arrogant behaviour from any crossing, and I've used most of them from the Soo eastward.
I've never had my truck gone through from anyone but once in Sarnia. It was an Easter Sunday, and ofcourse I was the only truck. The customs guy asked, not ordered me, if I would back up to the dock, leave my doors sealed and closed, and there would be a couple people out in a minute. I stood outside my truck talking with the one agent, while the other went through my truck. I swear all he did was sit on my bunk for 5 minutes, I couldn't tell that he'd looked any where. Then, they both apologized to me for the delay, and told me to have a nice stay in Canada. If only the US version could be half as decent.


Oh, Roadmedic, I solved my problem in case of emergency. I offered to pay for an enhanced license for my daughter, she said no problem. But I'm still going to call and find out what should be done otherwise.

 

I've only crossed the border at 5 different port of entries and the only one that I really hate because of their attitude is Detroit.

If you have the opportunity, either coming in or leaving, cross at Thousand Islands. It's beautiful!

 

Yes, yes it is! That was always my favourite crossing.. I never got to do it going into Canada, but many times going out. I even saw a saltwater boat going down, that looked cool.
The Nazis over there aren't bad at all either, they were always a lot more friendly that Detroit. I got talking to one once when the other was looking in my truck, he even thought they were a bunch of buttheads in Detroit.

I guess in somewhat of a defense for Detroit, they use them for training a lot. So many of those guys are still pumped up from their training, or boot camp, or what ever they call it. Still, they are the "ambassadors of freedom"!

 

I can't comment on the tunnel, I've never taken a ride through it except when I was a kid. I assume it would be the same group of Nazis there as the bridge. Be aware though, if you've ever got hazmat on, you can't use the Ambassador Bridge, let alone the tunnel. You have to go to Port Huron and cross there through Sarnia. It's a nicer drive across the 402, and I think it's only 12 miles difference than Detroit if you're coming from that way. There's a TS at MM25, in Wyoming, On.
I can't help ya on the gas either, I've never bought gas in Ca. for a commercial vehicle, but I do know any credit card you have would work. I think you've found by now Canada is NOT a third world country.
Nice ride through Maine, eh?
Wish I was doing that run with a little spare time, I'd like to stop in Digby and look up some relatives.

 

I cross the border at Detroit and Port Huron sometimes up to 4 trips a week. Been doing this since January, and " knock on wood" have never been checked by customs. All I haul is auto parts, and we have special forms for it is the only reason I can figure out why.