YRC Freight

Cross-Border Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will my shipment cross the border?

YRC Reimer and YRC Freight use eight Canada/U.S. Customs gateway locations:

• Blaine, Wash./Pacific Highway, BC
• Champlain, N.Y./Lacolle, PQ
• Detroit/Windsor, ON
• Niagara Falls, ON/Lewiston, ON
• Niagara Falls, N.Y./Peace Bridge, ON
• Pembina, N.D./Emerson, MB
• Port Huron, Mich./Sarnia, ON
• Sweetgrass, Mont./Coutts, AB

Where your shipment crosses the border depends on its origin and destination. Our highway dispatch network uses the most-direct route for your goods, assuring efficient, on-time delivery.

What are the documentation requirements for shipping between Canada and the United States?

Please see our cross-border documentation requirements page.

Is a customs broker required?

From the United States to Canada, the Canadian importer or purchaser may use a Canadian Customs Broker. If possible, the shipper should identify the broker or party acting as a broker on the bill of lading.

From Canada, a U.S. consignee needs a U.S. broker/freight forwarder, depending on where the goods will clear Customs.

We are not brokers or freight forwarders, so we cannot provide these services. Our border coordinators can recommend one, however, if you require either type of services.

Can a shipper simply select a forwarding agent and customs brokers from a list and provide their names and addresses on the bill of lading?

It is important that the responsible party contact the forwarding agent and/or customs broker(s) to set up an account. Like any business relationship, they will need to agree on the services to be provided, the charges for these services, set up payment or credit terms, etc.

When a customer fails to complete this important step of international shipping, delays are unavoidable at the United States and Canadian borders. When a broker and/or forwarder relationship has been established, all parties involved must be informed as to which forwarding agent and customs broker is/are designated to process each shipment through the border. This should be done before we pick up the shipment.

How much will duties and taxes be?

The importer of record is normally billed by his/her broker for duties and taxes. The customs broker determines duty (if applicable) along with the appropriate taxes and reports those taxes to Customs on the client's behalf.

Is my shipment covered against loss or damage when it is being delivered in the United States?

For moves into the United States from Canada, YRC Reimer provides you coverage at $2 a pound unless you request additional insurance coverage.

How are my shipping charges calculated?

It depends on your pricing program. Please contact your local sales representative for a full explanation.

Where can I get help to work out the details when shipping between Canada and the United States?

YRC Reimer has border coordinators available to answer all your questions and facilitate cross-border moves. Call 1-800-INTLREX (1-800-468-5739).

Shipments to and From Mexico

How do my goods get into Mexico?

When using our direct service, your shipment go through these steps:

1. The YRC Freight El Paso or Laredo, Texas, service centers (depending on your freight forwarder's location) deliver your shipment to your designated U.S. freight forwarder, who facilitates the border-crossing process for you.
2. Your U.S. freight forwarder delivers the export documents to the Mexico Customs broker and arranges for a drayage carrier to move the shipment across the border.
3. The drayage carrier presents a Shipper's Export Declaration to U.S. Customs to clear the shipment. The drayage carrier then takes the cleared shipment to Mexico Customs.
4. A representative of the Mexico broker meets the drayage carrier at Mexico Customs and personally clears the shipment.
5. The drayage carrier delivers the cleared shipment to the YRC Freight Mexico service center in Nuevo Laredo or Juarez.

What international documentation does a Canadian shipper need to provide?

The minimum required documentation includes a bill of lading, a commercial invoice and a packing list. These documents should be provided to YRC Reimer when we pick up your shipment.

If other documents are required, such as a NAFTA Certificate of Origin (for specific products); an Export License for regulated products, such as alcohol, firearms, tobacco, etc.; and a Transportation and Exportation (T&E) Customs Bond, your freight forwarding agent and/or customs broker can help you prepare the documents. This is another reason we recommend you communicate with a freight forwarding agent and/or customs broker before shipping cross-border.

Will my Canadian/U.S. discounts be applied to the Mexican part of my shipment's movement?

When using our direct service, a combination of rates apply to all "through moves". We use your rates and applicable international discounts for the Canadian and United States part of the move and our Mexico rate schedule for the Mexico part of the move.

These rates do not include IVA (Mexico value-added tax on Mexican paid freight charges) or Customs charges.

Is my shipment covered against loss or damage when it is being delivered in Mexico?

Yes. We provide you the following coverage against loss or damage at no extra charge:

1. For moves from Canada to the U.S./Mexico border, the coverage is $2.00 a pound, unless you request additional insurance coverage
2. During the Mexico part of the move, the coverage is $0.50 a pound up to $5,000 (U.S.) per shipment. If you think you'll need coverage beyond the $5,000 maximum for Mexico, you can buy additional coverage up to a maximum of $50,000 (U.S.) per shipment.

Where will my shipment cross the border and enter Mexico?

If you are taking advantage of our direct service into Mexico, your shipment border crossing is determined by the freight forwarder's address (El Paso, Texas/Juarez, Mexico; or Laredo, Texas/Nuevo Laredo, Mexico).

After my shipment reaches the Nuevo Laredo service center, how many days will it take to deliver my goods in Mexico?

• 1 day to Monterrey and San Luis Potosi
• 2 days to Torreon, Queretaro, Guadalajara and Mexico City
  
  

After my shipment reaches the Juarez service center, how many days will it take to deliver my goods in Mexico?

• 1 day to Chihuahua and Torreon
• 2 days to Monterrey
• 3 days to Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara and Mexico City

What are the most-common reasons for a delay at the U.S. gateways to Mexico?

• Incomplete documentation
• The consignee has not paid the duties

Can a shipper or importer do anything else before shipping to help expedite the border-crossing process?

Yes:

• Before shipping a product for the first time, provide all available information about the product, its components and manufacturing process to the customs broker.
• The broker may suggest that a product sample be shipped in advance for inspection and classification.
• The process of classifying some products can be time-consuming, depending on the complexity and types of materials in the products. Advance classification can prevent unnecessary delays at the Mexican border.

Is YRC Freight or YRC Reimer a freight forwarder or customs broker?

• We are not brokers or freight forwarders, so we cannot provide these types of services.
• If you are using our direct service in Mexico, you will need to provide us the name and address of a freight forwarder in Laredo or El Paso, Texas, to enable us to properly route your shipment and reduce delays at the Mexican border. Our Border Ambassadors can recommend a freight forwarder.

Should I provide the names and addresses of the forwarding agents and customs brokers to YRC Freight for all my Mexican shipments even though they may not be the importer?

Yes:

• Although the shipper may not be responsible for selecting the forwarding agent in Laredo or El Paso, Texas, the Mexican Customs Broker in Nuevo Laredo or Juarez, Mexico, and the U.S. Customs Broker that will place the shipment on a T&E Customs Bond must obtain that information from the responsible parties (exporter/importer) and provide it to YRC Freight.
• By including this information on their bills of lading, shippers can help to prevent unnecessary shipment delays at Laredo or El Paso, Texas.
• If we have this information when we pick up your shipment, we can expedite shipments through the border-crossing process and on to their destination in Mexico.

Can I simply select a forwarding agent and customs broker and provide their names and addresses on the bill of lading?

• It is important that the responsible party contact the forwarding agent and/or the customs broker(s) to set up an account with them.
• Like any business relationship, the shipper and the selected agent and broker will need to agree on the services to be provided and the charges for the services and set up payment or credit terms, etc.
• When a shipper fails to complete this important step of international shipping, delays are unavoidable at the U.S. and Mexican borders. When this relationship has been established, all parties involved must be informed as to which forwarding agent and customs broker(s) is/are designated to process each shipment through the borders. You should complete this before we pick up your shipment.

Must I know all these details to ship to Mexico?

Our Border Ambassadors can answer all your questions and facilitate cross-border moves. If you're in Canada or the United States, please call 1-800-INTLREX (1-800-468-5739). If you're in Mexico, plesae call 1-800-874-2000.