Transparency is often the key to a smooth trip across the Canadian border for truckers and their freight. But preparation is just as critical, especially when so many details come into play.
That’s what Bestway’s Canada Cross Border Services are all about. As a full-service transportation provider, we take care of everything from the actual trucking service to compliance, customs clearance and a variety of other issues that are best approached with a tailored solution.
Every type of carrier has different priorities. LTL carriers are often looking for the most economical approach. Air freight is looking to expedite. We understand that going in. But we also know that every situation has its own potential nuances, and we have to stay on top of policy developments and new requirements to keep our customers prepared.
That’s especially true in summer 2026, when a fair number of new regulations have been implemented at the Canadian border. One example is the requirement that only Canadian entities can act as customs brokers to clear freight through customs.
“The last thing you want is for freight to arrive at the border and have no way to clear it,” said Ryan Shannon, Bestway’s Head of North America Services.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) assesses and collects duties and taxes on commercial goods imported into Canada using the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system. The CARM system requires setup. Importers and exporters can’t simply expect to approach these situations in an on-demand manner. It’s essential to know who is going to act as the broker and to have all the information ready to go with respect to customs, duties and taxes.
Bestway has a Canadian broker partner at the ready, so the players are in place. But for each customer we serve, we gather a lot of information during onboarding to see what kinds of activities they’ll be engaging in. And if they’ll be operating at the Canadian border, we’re going to get these things set up well in advance so they never have an issue.
“If this client always pays their customers’ taxes and duties, then they’re always going to the same broker,” Shannon said. “But if they’re making their customer pay for it, then every single end use could potentially have a different customs broker. That highlights the level of service we provide. A lot of times there are errors and misperceptions of what’s needed to clear into Canadian territory northbound. But we work through all these things right from the sales process, because we want to help our client succeed.”
Sometimes Bestway also assists with details like route-mapping, which can be critical because Canadian provinces do not want trucks driving on their roads unless the freight is either originating or terminating in their province. So a shipment from Detroit to Vancouver would probably have to be routed entirely across U.S. roads until it reached the state of Washington, at which point it could cross the border into British Columbia.
“Working with Canada can be a very smooth process, but shippers can get lost in some of the surprising details and changing requirements,” Shannon said. “That’s why Bestway is here. We won’t let any of those details get missed, because they deserve the best experience and the best outcomes possible.”
