What Are The Steps I Need To Complete To Start Crossing Into The United States (DIY Customs Consulting)

This article is part of the Customs Compliance Guide

To cross into the U.S. commercially as a Canadian based trucking company or owner-operator, you must first operate under your own authority in Canada and be registered as commercial vehicle operator with either a Commercial Vehicle Operators Registration (CVOR) or another provincial transportation authority. If you have not registered for a CVOR or any provincial transportation authority, please click here for instructions on how to do so.

If the carrier or owner-operator does have a valid CVOR or is registered with a provincial transportation authority, the next step is to get your authority to cross into the U.S. In order to accomplish this two steps will need to be completed:

1. Register your company with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) or register to get your Motor Carrier (MC) Number. Please click here to learn how.
2. Once you received your USDOT or MC Number, you can apply for a Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) with National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). To learn how to register for a SCAC, click here.

Once you have completed registering for a USDOT or MC Number and also received an approval letter from NMFTA with a valid Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC), you can then register with an ACE Manifest Service Provider such as BorderConnect so you can process the required ACE electronic manifest when crossing into the U.S. with commercial loads. You will also need to order the necessary cross-border labels and documents that the customs broker and/or CBP officer will need when arriving at the border.

Below are the following additional steps that will need to be completed in order to bring commercial loads into the U.S.:

1. Sign up to BorderConnect so you can file ACE Manifests with U.S. CBP. You can register here. Or learn about ACE Manifest for BorderConnect and how it works by clicking here.
2. Order PAPS barcode labels and any other customs documents you may require when taking commercial loads into the U.S. You can order PAPS labels and customs documents and lead sheets here from BorderPrint.