Archive for the ‘Transportation’ Category

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Crossing the Border with a Multi-Load Shipment?

Red truckIn a situation where a commodity is invoiced as a single transaction and it is an oversize shipment such as: a large building and or machinery that cannot physically be moved on one truck,  Canada Border Services Agency has a provision to handle multi-load moves with one invoice value. The industry terminology for this type of special entry is a Prime and Entered to Arrive (ETA) entry. In these cases, the entire quantity of goods will be accounted for when the first shipment arrives, and the remainder will be processed as paper release package for each load to follow.

This means drivers carrying any parts or components for goods previously accounted for on one invoice will need to clear Customs against the original declaration previously provided to CBSA at the same port of entry as approved.

Carrier documentation requirements:

Each driver should then have a bill of lading and a packing list indicating all goods on board. These documents should be noted with a specific reference number being used to identify the original entry. Common examples would be the serial#, Unit#, VIN#, PO#, Shippers# or any other number that is unique to the complete commodity.

In addition, the driver should note which load number  they are of the total number of trucks needed to complete the delivery. For example:  load 3 of 12.

Next step is to notify the customs broker of your intent to cross the border. Indicate the PORT (which can only be the CBSA port listed on the CBSA approval form), estimated time of arrival (ETA) and phone number for the driver in the event the driver needs to be reached. If a cargo control number (CCN) has not been provided, please ensure that the driver is aware of the carriers “carrier code”, as a manifest will be required upon arrival. Charges to generate a cargo control number/barcode for the driver may apply if not previously provided.

Do you have components on board for more than one prime entry OR extra parts not for a prime entry?

If so, the driver will need to generate a SEPARATE bill of lading (BOL), separate packing list & separate CCN for each list of items that will be specific to each prime entry.

Extra parts shipped with an ETA load that are not a part of an original transaction will also require a separate BOL, packing list, Canada Customs or commercial invoice indicating all information required for Customs & separate CCN.

Comments:

Please note that drivers generally will not be provided any “invoices” for their load because the master invoice for the complete transaction would have already been declared to CBSA  More than likely, the driver will have a packing list, BOL, indication of what unit they have parts for, load# & CCN#. If the drivers have parts for more than one unit, they need to provide a separate list. For more information on this blog, please feel free to contact the carrier help desk at 855.542.6644 or email carrierhelpdesk@pcb.ca.

 

Posted on February 8th, 2012 by Cherie Storms
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Transportation, Your Broker Knows

BorderPro iPhone App – How to Use SMS and Email Subscriptions

BorderPro iPhone app SMS screenshot

Border Pro for Carriers powered by Pacific Customs Brokers, introduces a number of new features which leverages technology developed to support the BorderPro iPhone app. A not so obvious feature – is the addition of short message service (SMS) and email subscriptions to PARS and SCN shipment entries.

Email and SMS subscriptions are now offered on both our website based PARS and SCN tracking pages, as well as our iPhone application. At the time of submitting your PARS or SCN number,  the user can also provide a valid email or SMS/mobile number. We will then confirm/validate that your PARS or SCN number is valid and then subscribe you to that tracking number. You will receive a subscription confirmation by SMS or email as well as an email or SMS for every status change to the point of release. Using this you can search once, subscribe and be notified as your shipment is prepared and released. This can also allow your dispatch office to enter the tracking number on behalf of trucks en-route and providing the drivers SMS or email address for receiving updates. Invalid entries will not be subscribed for reasons such as; the number does not match in our system. This may be because Pacific Customs Brokers is not the designated customs broker associated to the shipment or simply human error and the number was entered incorrectly.

Be sure to give this a try on your next SCN or PARS lookup, submit once – add your preferred method of getting tracking updates and you will be notified on all status changes for that given shipment. For more information, please visit our BorderPro for Carriers web pages or contact our carrier help desk for assistance with this new and exciting feature.

Watch for multi-PARS and SCN support later this year as we continue to develop the back end support for the BorderPro iphone app.

Posted on January 31st, 2012 by Jeff Bourassa
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Transportation, US Customs, Your Broker Knows

The Road to an iPhone App – BorderPro Launches

Border Pro for iPhone“What do we need an iPhone app for?” Was the question asked when I suggested attending an iPhone Developer Course in the 2011. After some convincing, I registered and flew to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the course. A year later, Pacific Customs Brokers releases ‘BorderPro’ iPhone application v1.

As the General Manager of Information Technology for Pacific Customs Brokers, it was obvious from the beginning, Pacific’s commitment to technology. In the early 1990’s, Pacific’s primary focus was to be established on the internet, with email services and websites. Shortly after, we developed a PDF document system (www.formlink.com) that allowed our clients to submit customs documentation directly through an online forms system, which is still used by many of our clients today for both U.S. and Canadian documentation. Almost 20 years later the technology landscape is quite different.  The focus now is on services and website users expect more than just marketing material. The reach of internet is everywhere and smartphones, iPhones and iPads are now commonplace. Mobiles are becoming the platform (some might argue it has already became the platform) and Pacific Customs Brokers recognizes the need for an iPhone Application for carriers.

The concept was a fairly simple one, create an iPhone app that exposes our PARS and SCN tracking lookups.  Our existing website based tracking is heavily used by many carriers servicing our clients for tracking the release status of shipments. Our development focus over the past 10 years has been on web-based solutions.  Developing an iPhone app required a change in our development process, a change in technology and a re-tooling of our backend web-services to leverage the iPhone platform.  An iPhone application is quite different from the fluid nature of developing website based applications.  With a website we can tweak on the fly, make changes, test and fix. The iPhone development is much more stringent – it is about getting it right before it is released.  For us this meant rethinking our design process, our marketing process and our development process from the ground up.

The ‘BorderPro’ iPhone app is a first for Pacific Customs Brokers, and a first in North America for a purpose built customs brokerage tracking application.  It provides direct lookups for both PARS and SCN entries into our backend systems – giving the end user real-time clearance status updates.  It also provides the end user the ability to subscribe to a SCN or PARS tracking feed and receive SMS/Text messages with up to date tracking changes for any number of PARS or SCN numbers.  Any client can easily track and get tracking updates from any iPhone anywhere, anytime of the day or night.

The BorderPro iPhone app is the result of close to a year of planning, testing, design, and learning and is clearly a stepping stone into the future for Pacific Customs Brokers.  Our IT team has plans for the next version of our iPhone app that will add new features and functionality to this platform making it even more useful to our customers, clients and partners.

During that time, Pacific has taken many twists and turns, but always committed to technology.

Learn more about the BorderPro iPhone app »

 

Posted on January 24th, 2012 by Jeff Bourassa
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Transportation, US Customs

2 Simple Rules to Lending Carrier Codes

Blue TruckThe rules for the lending of carrier codes are fairly straightforward.

Two Simple Rules:

  • Bonded highway carriers may lend their code out to non-bonded carriers
  • Non-bonded highway carriers cannot lend their code to any other carriers

Bonded highway carriers may contract with other non-bonded carriers to transport goods on their behalf because they have posted maximum security of $25,000. The bonded carrier must issue a Letter of Authorization to the non-bonded carrier in order for the non-bonded carrier to be able to proceed with the load. The contracting carrier (carrier borrowing the code) must produce, upon request, the Letter of Authorization signed by the originating carrier (the bonded carrier) at time of report. The Letters of Authorization must be printed on company letterhead and must adhere to the format outlined by the Canada Border Services Agency.

The bonded carrier lending his carrier code maintains full liability for the goods and the performance of the carrier they are lending it to. Any tracers or penalties will be issued to the authorizing bonded highway carrier. The bonded carrier is also responsible for controlling the distribution and validity of Letters of Authorization of being issued.

Before you lend or borrow a carrier code, do your due diligence and be aware of the rules and responsibilities involved.

For more detailed information and a sample of the Letter of Authorization.

Are you a non-bonded carrier that’s interested in becoming bonded? Visit Border Pro for Carriers  and/or call our Carrier Relations Liaison toll-free at 855.542.6644 for more information.

 

Posted on January 4th, 2012 by Sonia Stanton
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Transportation, Your Broker Knows

Help ! My Shipment is Stuck at the Border

Always OpenMany times, we as customs brokers receive phone calls from importers, shippers, dispatchers and carriers frantically trying to find out why their shipment is “stuck at the border”. Lucky for them, we are ALWAYS Open 24/7, with live reception and no voice mail.

Sometimes it is a very simple answer and other incidence’s are more complex. Below are some of the most common reasons why a shipment may be stuck at the border.

1. Documents make no mention of who the customs broker is to assist with the clearance.  “Customs Clearance- contact Pacific Customs Brokers 888.538.1566”

2. Documents are hard to decipher who the actual Importer of Record is. The Importer of Record (IOR) can be;

  •  The receiver of the goods – usually called “consignee”
  • The shipper (acting as a “Non-Resident Importer” (NRI) and already set up with a Canadian customs broker)
  • A third party having their shipments drop shipped from another location and in most cases will also be acting as a “Non-Resident Importer”

3. Neither the shipper or the consignee have not set up anything formally with a Canadian customs broker to effect customs clearance.

4. The driver/freight company picking up freight only has a Bill of Lading and is not given any other documents such as a commercial invoice or Canada Customs invoice.

5. Documents/commercial invoice does not have enough information to be able to prepare the entry for presentation and clearance with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Some of the information that can hold this up is:

  • not enough information to  classify the goods (Tariff Classification)
  • total value or individual values are missing
  • country of manufacture is missing
  • total number of pieces is missing
  • weight is missing
  • commercial invoice document only shows product numbers or abbreviated number & item name (no general description of what the goods are). See below for examples.

For example: – 1956842ftp clr scn/cpy/prnt (not an acceptable description)

-   1956842ftp – Scanner/copier/printer unit (an acceptable description)

6. The document is not the correct document to obtain a customs clearance (i.e. purchase order or pick ticket)

7. A few more reasons freight crossing the border is often delayed may be due to the actual commodity being shipped. Perhaps there are other government agencies that are involved in approving the goods for Customs clearance, such as items that are under control of Canadian Food Inspections Agency (CFIA).

They require CFIA approval and some commodities are under quota and require an Import Permit. Perhaps the goods are listed on the Import Control List and require an Import Permit, such as some steel items.   Meat shipments and those requirements are also extensive.

It is always a good idea to check with a customs broker for any special requirements or extra documentation and / or extra steps that may need to be taken to properly clear the goods across the border prior to ordering or shipping.

When in doubt, be sure to contact your customs broker. They’ll properly advise on what you need to do and what they need in order for your shipment (s) to avoid delays and have a seamless Customs clearance process.

 

 

 

Posted on January 3rd, 2012 by Allison Douglas
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Posted in Canada Customs, Carrier, Transportation, Your Broker Knows

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