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The short answer

Define the freight, then confirm the Canadian importer of record has its CARM account and has delegated its customs broker. Send the broker a complete commercial invoice before pickup. The carrier needs a CBSA carrier code and must have its eManifest data received and validated at least one hour before reaching the first Canadian port. After release, the load delivers under the Canadian appointment.

This page is part of the U.S.–Canada freight shipping guide.

How the move works

The northbound sequence

  1. Define the shipmentCommodity, piece or pallet count, packaging, dimensions, total weight, loading method, temperature needs and any dangerous goods.
  2. Confirm the Canadian importerThe Canadian business responsible for the import needs a CARM Client Portal account, a business number and an import program (RM) account.
  3. Assign and delegate the customs brokerIf a broker will act for the importer, the importer delegates authority to it in CARM.
  4. Build the customs fileCommercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, CUSMA origin support if claimed, and any product permits.
  5. Carrier reports to CBSAThe carrier sends its cargo and conveyance data through eManifest, to be received and validated at least one hour before the first port of arrival.
  6. Release at the borderCBSA matches the carrier's report with the broker's release request through the cargo control number.
  7. Deliver in CanadaThe load continues to the consignee under the planned appointment.

The one-hour rule is a CBSA minimum for the carrier's data, not a target. The broker and carrier need your information days before the truck leaves, not an hour before the booth.

What the shipper needs

  • The Canadian importer of record, named, with its CARM status known
  • The customs broker's name and contact, or a note that it is pending
  • A specific commercial invoice: seller, buyer, goods, quantity, value, currency, origin
  • A bill of lading and packing list that match the invoice
  • CUSMA certification information if preference is claimed
  • Product permits or certificates where the goods need them

U.S. export filing (AES/EEI)

Most U.S. exports to Canada are exempt from filing Electronic Export Information in AES (15 CFR 30.36). The exemption does not apply to shipments that need an export license or fall under another mandatory filing rule, or to goods moving through Canada to a third country. Check the actual goods before relying on it.

What changes the plan

  • A first-time importer. CARM registration, the RM account and broker delegation take time. Build that into the ship date.
  • Regulated goods. Food, plants, animal products, vehicles and chemicals can need permits from agencies beyond CBSA.
  • Temperature control. Reefer setpoints and records travel with the load; see Canada freight equipment.
  • Oversize dimensions. Each province issues its own permits; see oversize freight to Canada.
  • The crossing. The port affects the broker's workflow, the carrier's report and the route; see Canada border crossings.

Common failure points

  • The importer is named after pickup, or has not finished its CARM setup.
  • The broker has not been delegated in CARM, or has no invoice.
  • The invoice says "parts" or "equipment" instead of what the goods are.
  • The carrier and broker are working from different references or a different port.
  • Delivery is booked as if the border takes no time.

Before requesting a quote

  • U.S. pickup city, state and ZIP
  • Canadian delivery city, province and postal code
  • Ready date and delivery window
  • Commodity and piece or pallet count
  • Dimensions and total weight
  • Trailer type, if known
  • Importer of record and CARM status, if known
  • Customs broker, or "pending"
  • Special handling: reefer, hazmat, high value, oversize

Common questions

Can freight ship to a Canadian customer that has never imported before?

Potentially, but that customer's importer setup should be finished before dispatch. A first-time importer may need its business number, RM account, CARM portal access and broker delegation.

Does the carrier need a Canadian carrier code?

Yes. A highway carrier bringing commercial goods into Canada reports to CBSA under a CBSA-issued four-character carrier code.

Can the truck cross before the entry is ready?

A non-bonded carrier must have its shipments released at the first port of arrival, so the entry needs to be ready when the truck arrives. Plan dispatch around the customs status, not the other way round.

Is FCC the customs broker?

No. We plan and quote the transportation. The importer and its licensed customs broker handle the customs entry.

Shipping north into Canada?

Send the lane, freight details and what you know about the importer and broker, and we will price the transportation and flag what still needs confirming.

Request a Freight Quote

Official sources

Last verified: 27 September 2026 against the official sources listed.