Dry van truckload
Most Canada freight, door to door on the same truck.
- Major crossings
- Detroit–Windsor, Buffalo–Fort Erie, Port Huron–Sarnia
Services · Cross-border
Shipping Freight to Canada
Truckload, flatbed and heavy haul freight between the U.S. and Canada, and within Canada too. Most Canada freight stays on the same truck from pickup to delivery; I coordinate the move through the Landstar network and work with your customs brokers so it clears without delays.
- U.S. ↔ Canada
- Through-truck service
- Billing in USD or CAD
How it works
One truck, two customs clearances
Canada freight usually moves through-truck: the same truck and driver from pickup to delivery. Before the truck reaches the border, the carrier files an electronic manifest, ACI eManifest going into Canada or ACE eManifest going into the U.S., and the importer’s customs broker gets the shipment ready for release, through PARS for Canada or PAPS for the U.S.
The Landstar network includes Canadian-based owner-operators and carriers for freight within Canada as well as across the border, with billing in U.S. or Canadian dollars. Landstar is also certified under C-TPAT and FAST, the U.S. programs that help trusted carriers clear the border faster. For Mexico, see shipping freight to Mexico.
Options
Shipping to and from Canada
Most freight types cross the northern border on the same truck. These are the ones worth planning ahead for.
Flatbed & heavy haul
Steel, lumber, machinery and oversize loads, with permits for each state and province.
- Note
- The load must be legal in every state and province on the route
Refrigerated & food
Food and temperature-sensitive freight, under food safety rules on both sides of the border.
- U.S. rules
- FSMA, and FDA prior notice for food imports
- Canada
- CFIA requirements for food imports
Within Canada
Freight between Canadian points, hauled by Canadian-based carriers in the Landstar network.
- Billing
- U.S. or Canadian dollars
Rail intermodal
Containers and trailers on rail in and out of Canada, for long, steady lanes.
- Best for
- Long-haul, less time-critical freight
Dangerous goods
Canada regulates hazmat as dangerous goods under its TDG Regulations, so the paperwork has to meet the rules on both sides.
- Tip
- Share the UN number and SDS up front
Typical loads
What moves between the U.S. and Canada
- Automotive parts
- Steel & aluminum
- Lumber & building materials
- Machinery
- Food & beverages
- Paper & packaging
- Consumer goods
- Plastics & chemicals
- Agricultural products
- Energy equipment
Step by step
How a Canada load moves
Shipment details
Commodity, value, HS codes if you have them, weight, pieces, and pickup and delivery addresses.
Customs pre-clearance
The commercial invoice goes to the importer’s customs broker, who sets up PARS (into Canada) or PAPS (into the U.S.).
eManifest and crossing
The carrier files the ACI or ACE eManifest before arrival and crosses with the release ready.
Delivery
The same truck delivers, with updates along the way.
Request a quote
What I need for a quote
- Origin and destination addresses
- Commodity description and value
- HS tariff codes, if known
- Weight, pieces and dimensions
- Your customs broker, or whether you need one
- Who the importer of record is
- Billing currency: U.S. or Canadian dollars
- Hazmat, temperature or oversize needs
How do I ship freight to Canada?
You need a commercial invoice (or a Canada Customs Invoice), a bill of lading, and a Canadian customs broker working for the importer. The broker sets up PARS so the shipment can be released at the border, and the carrier files the ACI eManifest before arrival. I coordinate the truck and the timing with them.
What is PARS?
The Pre-Arrival Review System lets a Canadian customs broker send the shipment’s details to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) before the truck arrives, so it can be released at the border. The PARS number travels with the paperwork as a barcode label.
What is PAPS?
The Pre-Arrival Processing System is the U.S. version: a barcoded number the U.S. customs broker uses to clear a shipment coming from Canada with U.S. Customs and Border Protection before it arrives.
Do I need to file EEI for exports to Canada?
Usually not. Most U.S. exports to Canada are exempt from Electronic Export Information filing, unless the goods need an export license or are otherwise controlled. Your customs broker or forwarder can confirm.
Do I pay duties shipping to Canada?
Goods that meet the CUSMA rules of origin can enter duty-free with proof of origin. Other goods may pay duty, and the importer of record pays GST and any duties, usually through their customs broker.
Can you bill in Canadian dollars?
Yes. Freight through the Landstar network can be billed in U.S. or Canadian dollars.
Customs requirements change and depend on the commodity. This page is general information, not customs advice; your customs broker confirms what your shipment needs.
More services
Other freight I move
Request a quote
Shipping to or from Canada?
Send the origin, destination, commodity and value, and I’ll plan the crossing with you.