Freight & customs guides.
Plain-English answers to the questions Canadian importers and exporters actually ask. We skip the jargon and keep these current.
Start with the basics
Guides for shippers and importers.
New to importing, or just tired of the acronyms? Start here. Each guide is written to be read once and understood, and checked against the primary sources (CBSA, ICC, CIFFA).
Freight forwarder vs. customs broker vs. 3PLThree terms that get used interchangeably and shouldn't be. What each one does, who needs which, and how they overlap.
Do I need a customs broker to import to Canada?No, it is not legally required. What the CBSA actually says, what self-clearing involves, and when a broker is worth it.
Incoterms 2020 explainedFOB, CIF, EXW, DDP and the rest. Who pays what, where risk transfers, and the CIF trap that catches buyers.
CARM
The CBSA's import system, explained.
CARM changed how every Canadian importer deals with the border, and the financial-security part trips up most businesses. These two go together.
CARM explained: what importers must doWhat CARM is, the CARM Client Portal, Release Prior to Payment, and why you now post your own financial security.
CARM financial security: bond vs. cashHow the amount is calculated, non-cash bond (50%, min $5,000) vs. cash deposit (100%), a worked example, and which to choose.
Cross-border and customs
Moving freight across the border.
What actually happens at customs when a truck crosses, and the paperwork that keeps it moving.
PARS vs PAPS explainedHow pre-arrival customs release works both ways: PARS northbound into Canada, PAPS southbound into the US, and where eManifest fits.
CUSMA certificate of originThe nine required data elements, who can certify, blanket certifications, and when you need one to claim duty-free treatment.
Drayage and trucking
Containers, ramps, and LTL, in the GTA.
How boxes move through the Greater Toronto Area, and how road freight is priced.
What is drayage? Container drayage in the GTAWhat drayage is, port versus rail drayage, chassis, free time and demurrage, and how a container gets from the ramp to your door.
GTA intermodal ramps: CN Brampton and CPKC VaughanThe two main GTA rail ramps, which railway serves each, and what to know about dwell, chassis, and appointments.
Freight class and NMFC for LTL shippersHow the NMFC assigns one of 18 classes from density, stowability, handling, and liability, and why it drives your LTL rate.
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