Question about the ACIs and border crossings

What company?

 

Len Dubois. Avoid. They're being taken to the Labour Board right now.

 

So it was just warnings up until now ("now" being Dec 31) if you went through a gate that was different from the one listed on the ACI?

 

Bottom line. Don’t do it and be sure to find out which border crossing the paperwork is for.

 

Well aware of them.

 

Soft enforcement ended 12/31/17.

 

25hz,

I just tried to send you a private message, but since I don't have the necessary post count for that the system wouldn't let me do it (this is what I get for just lurking all these years, lol).

Can I ask you to please send me a private message? I'd like to exchange some specific information with you, but I feel a public forum is not the appropriate place for that.

 

From what I've heard, customs related fines coming into Canada for improper paperwork start at $5,000 CAD to the driver, and $10,000 CAD to the company. I'm not sure why the company is doing this to you, but you NEED to always specify your crossing place, with the estimated date and time of arrival on the ACI.

My company uses a "lead sheet" that has empty boxes for all the required info with room for one of the two PARS stickers at the bottom. One goes there, second one goes somewhere on the customs invoice. Both go off to the broker, and all relevant info (weight, declared value, crossing port, date and time, etc) goes to dispatch so they can set up the ACI with customs to clear.

Get to the window, hand them passport and ACI lead sheet, answer the questions, get a stamp and move along.

The CBSA isn't playing around anymore (finally catching up to the CBP), and drivers need to know what's what before crossing borders. It's a very serious thing these days, and with the increase in smuggling activities (and not just illicit things like drugs and whatnot, but legal products escaping duty charges), they are trying to keep both sides of the border safe for everyone.

I've been getting more and more instances of the question coming back into Canada: "Have you received or picked up any packages for yourself or another?" Lots of drivers I think have been taking advantage of the parcel pickup services to escape duty charges and they've caught on. All I ever buy in the US is food for the week or a few treats here and there for my wife.

All the CBSA cares about is honesty. Tell them the truth and they won't make your life a living hell (and depending on what it is, lying about it could make it far more difficult to get in and out of the country in the future).

 

Yeah, Where were you a couple years ago?!?!

I look at it as a valuable learning experience. Taught me to ask some questions I didn't know I had to ask before.

Thanks for the answers

 

Oh jeez. I gave up with all the crap going through the borders back in 2003. Since I may want to start running down there again for cheap fuel reasons, I guess I better learn all the new bull feces.