Carriers with no carrier code will be turned back at border starting April 1st

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) published, on March 28, guidelines to provide information to importers and brokers in preparation for the elimination of itinerant carrier codes, applicable to all modes, on April 1, 2011.

Specifically, this will affect the process of obtaining release where an itinerant or 77YY carrier code would have been used for the creation of a Cargo Control Number (CCN) to facilitate the control of cargo and release processing.

Effective April 01, 2011 the CBSA will no longer accept generic itinerant carrier codes for any mode of transportation and all carriers must have and utilize a unique identifying carrier code. This includes carriers importing both personal and commercial goods to Canada.

The guidelines describe a "carrier" as: "a person or company who transports goods into Canada and can move goods by air, highway, sea, rail or international mail and who is compensated for these services."

According to the guidelines, "carriers arriving in Canada who do not have a valid carrier code will need to make arrangements to have the goods released at the the first port of arrival or in the case of highway importation, voluntarily return to the U.S."

There are exceptions for commercial goods carried by paying passengers onboard traveler's commercial conveyances (bus, taxi, plane, ship etc.) or by a driver of a "not for hire" non-commercial conveyance (i.e. personal vehicle or own company's vehicle).

For additional information please see: CBSA Guidelines for Cargo and Release Processing (doc) Elimination of the 77YY and ITN (Itinerant) Carrier Codes.

Attention highway carriers using carrier code "77YY"

Important information concerning the elimination of carrier code "77YY"
With the implementation of eManifest in the highway mode beginning on October 31, 2010, the generic itinerant highway carrier code "77YY" will no longer be accepted for commercial cross-border activity. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will assign a unique carrier code that will become a legislated requirement for all carriers.

To prepare carriers and drivers currently using code "77YY", a transition period will begin on May 1, 2010, until the final elimination of code "77YY" on March 31, 2011.

For further information on the process for obtaining a carrier code, visit the Commercial Carriers section of the CBSA Web site or call the Border Information Service:

From within Canada – toll free: 1-800-461-9999
United States – long-distance charges apply: East
West 506-636-5064
204-983-3500
TTY within Canada – toll free:
(for those with hearing or speech impairments) 1-866-335-3237

For more information about eManifest, visit the CBSA Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca