🔖 This article is part of the Customs Glossary Guide

Cargo Control Number (CCN)

The unique identifier assigned by a carrier to track and report shipments to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Type: Shipment Identifier Region: Canada (CBSA)

Overview

A PARS barcode label with a Cargo Control Number

A Cargo Control Number (CCN) is a unique alphanumeric identifier used to report and track individual shipments entering Canada. It serves as the common link between the carrier's transport documents, the ACI eManifest data, and the customs broker's release entry.

While the CBSA issues the Carrier Code (the first 4 characters), the carrier is responsible for assigning the unique reference number that follows it.

Key Rule: A Cargo Control Number must be unique and cannot be reused for a period of 3 years plus the current year.

Format & Structure

A valid Cargo Control Number is composed of two parts and must adhere to strict formatting rules:

Part 1: Carrier Code (4 characters)
The CBSA-assigned code identifying the carrier (e.g., 8080).
Part 2: Unique Reference Number (up to 21 characters)
A unique sequence assigned by the carrier to identify the specific shipment (e.g., 123456).

Combined Example: 8080123456

Constraint	Rule
Length	Minimum 5 characters, Maximum 25 characters (Total).
Characters	Letters (A-Z), Numbers (0-9), and dashes (-) are allowed. No spaces or special symbols.
PARS Labels	For highway carriers, the CCN is often synonymous with the PARS Number. If the word "PARS" is printed on the barcode label (e.g., `8080PARS123`), it must be included in the electronic transmission.

Common Usage Scenarios

The CCN is utilized in almost every commercial crossing scenario:

Scenario	Role of the CCN
PARS Shipments (Pre-Arrival Review System)	Scenario: A standard commercial load moving from the U.S. to Canada. Usage: The carrier prints the CCN as a barcode (PARS label) and affixes it to the invoice. The broker uses this same CCN to submit their release request. CBSA links the carrier's ACI eManifest and the broker's entry via this matching number.
In-Bond Shipments (Moving Inland)	Scenario: Goods are moving to an inland sufferance warehouse or transiting through Canada. Usage: The CCN identifies the bond on the A8A Cargo Control Document. It tracks the liability of the goods from the border to the destination warehouse.
Temporary Imports (E29B)	Scenario: Equipment entering for a trade show or repair. Usage: The CCN acts as the identifier on the Temporary Admission Permit (Form E29B), allowing CBSA to acquit the shipment when it leaves the country.
Air & Marine Cargo	Scenario: Goods arriving by plane or ship. Usage: The CCN is referenced on the Air Waybill or Marine Bill of Lading. Freight forwarders may also issue "House Bill" CCNs linked to the primary carrier's CCN.

Usage in BorderConnect

In BorderConnect ACI eManifest software, the Cargo Control Number is a mandatory field for every shipment.

Entry: Entered on the Start New ACI Shipment Page.
Validation: The software automatically checks for uniqueness, length, and valid characters to prevent rejects.
Auto-Sequencing: Users can configure their Company Settings to automatically generate the next sequential CCN, preventing duplicates and saving data entry time.

Note: If you are hauling a shipment for another carrier (where you are not the primary carrier), you may enter their CCN as a "Reference Only" shipment to link your manifest to their cargo data.