Military Goods (CBSA Shipment Type)

This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide

Canada Department of National Defence

Military Goods Consigned to the Department of National Defence is a Canadian Shipment Type used when goods belonging to, consigned to, or destined to the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) are transported to Canada by an authorized commercial highway carrier.

Military goods moved by a commercial highway carrier must be reported to CBSA on an ACI eManifest. CBSA’s highway pre-arrival guidance excludes a military conveyance, and goods transported on board that conveyance, from the definition of specified goods; however, that exemption applies to the military conveyance itself and does not remove ACI reporting requirements for a commercial highway carrier hauling DND freight.

Video tutorial

How to create a Military Goods shipment in BorderConnect

When ACI is required

Use the Military Goods shipment type when:

• the goods are consigned to, owned by, or destined to the Canadian Department of National Defence;
• the goods are moving to Canada on a commercial highway carrier;
• the carrier has appropriate DND, military, shipper, broker, or contract documentation for the load; and
• the carrier has been instructed to report the shipment as Military Goods.

If the goods are moving on an actual military conveyance, different reporting rules may apply because CBSA excludes military conveyances and goods transported on board those conveyances from the specified-goods definition used for pre-arrival reporting. If the carrier is a private trucking company hauling the goods, the carrier should prepare and transmit the ACI eManifest.

If other commercial freight is on the same conveyance, report those shipments on the ACI eManifest using their appropriate shipment types as well. CBSA states that commercial highway information sent in advance must be accurate and complete so CBSA can validate the data.

Military Goods in ACI eManifest

To report a Military Goods shipment in BorderConnect:

Selecting Military Goods in BorderConnect ACI eManifest

1. Create an ACI shipment.
2. Select Military Goods as the shipment type.
3. Enter a unique Cargo Control Number.
4. Enter the shipper, consignee, and commodity information normally required for an ACI shipment.
5. Use a clear commodity description and identify the Department of National Defence or the applicable base, depot, unit, contractor, or DND consignee where appropriate.
6. Save the shipment and transmit it as part of the ACI eManifest.

The commodity description should be specific enough for CBSA review. CBSA identifies unclear cargo descriptions as one type of ACI compliance issue that may lead to delay or penalty.

Documentation

The driver should carry the barcoded ACI lead sheet or Cargo Control Number and any supporting paperwork supplied by DND, the shipper, the broker, or the carrier’s customer. This may include bills of lading, delivery instructions, DND consignee details, contract references, base or depot information, or other documents that support the military-goods movement.

If the shipment contains firearms, weapons, ammunition, controlled goods, explosives, or other regulated articles, additional federal requirements may apply outside the ACI shipment type. CBSA’s firearms and weapons guidance states that firearms, weapons, and devices in transit through Canadian waters must be declared to CBSA, which illustrates that regulated defence-related goods can have reporting obligations beyond ordinary cargo reporting.

At the border

The driver should present the barcoded ACI lead sheet or Cargo Control Number and verbally report the Military Goods shipment to the CBSA officer upon arrival. The driver should also be prepared to present supporting DND, military, shipper, broker, or carrier documentation when requested.

For highway carriers, ACI cargo and conveyance data must generally be transmitted and accepted at least one hour before arrival at the first Canadian port of arrival. CBSA’s highway ACI guidance reminds carriers to send ACI at least one hour before arrival at a port of entry, and the CBSA highway ECCRD states that electronic highway cargo and conveyance documents must be received and validated no later than one hour before arrival at the first port of arrival.

Carrier checklist

Before transmitting a Military Goods shipment, confirm that:

• the shipment is consigned to, owned by, or destined to the Canadian Department of National Defence;
• the load is moving on a commercial highway carrier, not an exempt military conveyance;
• the carrier has been instructed to use the Military Goods shipment type;
• the Cargo Control Number is unique and correctly entered;
• the shipper, consignee, and commodity information are complete and accurate;
• the commodity description is clear and not generic;
• the driver has the ACI lead sheet or Cargo Control Number and supporting DND, shipper, broker, or carrier documents;
• the ACI eManifest is transmitted and accepted at least one hour before arrival at the first Canadian port of arrival.