Categories
INTERNATIONAL LTL TL

Shipping to and from Canada: What to expect at the border

Many first time shippers are a little overwhelmed when they have to deal with customs and clearance for the first time. It is a good idea to employ a customs broker right away and they can help alleviate some of the stress of shipping. It really doesn’t have to be a source of stress and hopefully we can help make the process smoother for you as well.
The first thing is to find out the value of your shipment if you aren’t already aware of that. When importing or exporting there is a process for Low Value shipping that you can follow. If your shipment is worth less than $2500 CAD you will qualify to go this route and not require a broker.
With this, all you need is an invoice with all the pertinent information on it in regards to your load. This includes information on where your items originated from, any serial numbers and a value associated with your full shipment. You will also need a copy of the BOL (bill of lading) for the carrier to produce at customs. If your load is more than $2500 CAD then you will have to clear it with a customs broker. They do not have to be pricey and there are several good brokers you can choose from starting as low as $30 USD. They will help you gather all the paperwork necessary to clear your load at the border.
  • Canada/US Customs Invoice, or a Commercial Invoice also called a PROFORMA
  • BOL (Bill of Lading)
  • Certificate of origin 
  • Shipper
Categories
INTERNATIONAL

SCAC Codes

Whether shipping internationally via ocean vessels or domestically OTR (Over-the-Road), each carrier uses a Standard Carrier Alpha Code, which is a 2 to 4 letter code to identify freight carriers in TMSs, common computer systems and BOLs (Bill of Ladings). These codes are also now used by EDIFACT, of the United Nations.
The main purpose is to end the codes in either a “U” for Containers, an “X” for privately owned rail cars and a “Z” for chassis commonly used in drayage for intermodal purposes. CBP (Customs Border Patrol) also uses the codes for electronic clearance of documents 24 hours prior to a vessel’s departure from the port of loading. 
These codes were developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association back in the 1960s to begin the automation of data and records in the transport industry. 
Below is a complete list of SCAC:
Carrier(s) SCAC code
Atlantic Container Line ACLU
Alianca ANRM
Alaska Marine Lines AKMR
Australia National Line ANNU
American President Lines APLU
Arkas Container Transport S.A. ARKU
Atlantic Ro-Ro Carriers Inc AROF
Bahri / National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia NSAU
Bermuda Container Line BCLU
Central Gulf Lines, Inc CEGL
Compagnia Chilena de Navigacion Interoceanica SA CNIU
Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company CPJQ
Compagnie Maritime CMDU
Cheng Lie Navigation Co.,Ltd 11DX
COSCO Container Lines COSU
Crowley CMCU/CAMN
Compania Sud Americana de Vapores CHIW
CSAV Norasia NSLU
China Shipping Container Lines Co CHNJ
Delmas DAAE
Dole Ocean Cargo Express DOLQ
Ecuadorian Line EQLI
Eimskip EIMU/EIMW
Emirates Shipping Line ESPU
Eukor EUKO
Evergreen Line EGLV
Far Eastern Shipping Company FESO
Galborg GFAL
Grieg Star Shipping ACSU
Grimaldi GRIU
Gold Star Line Ltd. GSLU
Great White Fleet UBCU
Great Eastern Shipping Inc. GESC
Hamburg Sud SUDU
Hapag Lloyd Container Line/A> HLCU
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. HDMU
Hoegh Autoliners HUAU
Horizon Lines HRZU
Hyde Shipping HYDU
Independent Container Line IILU
Industrial Maritime Carriers (Intermarine) IDMC
Interocean Lines INOC
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. KKLU
King Ocean Sercies KOSL
Korea Marine Transport Co., Ltd. KMTU
Companhia Libra de Navegacao CLIB
Liberty Global Logistics, LLC LGLT
Linea Messina LMCU
Maersk Line MAEU
Marfret Compagnie Maritime MFTU
Maruba MRUB
Matson MATS
MCC Transport Pte. Ltd. MCCQ
Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Berhad MISC
Mediterranean Shipping Company MSCU
Nile Dutch Africa Line NIDU
Neptune Shipping Line NOSU
Nordana Line NODA
Ocean Network Express (ONE Line) ONEY
Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. OOLU
Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines PSHI
Pacific International Lines PCIU
PM&O Lines PMOL
Polynesia Line PLLU
Rickmers Linie RCKI
Safmarine SAFM
Sallaum Lines SLAQ
Samskip, Inc. SKII
The Shipping Coporation of India Ltd. SCIU
Seaboard Marine SMLU
SeaFreight Line SEFN
Seago Line SEJJ
Siem Car Carriers AS SCYE
Sinokor Merchant Marine Co.,Ltd SKLU
Swire Shipping CHVW
Thorco Shipping THZS
TOHO Shipping Co., Ltd TOHO
TOTE Maritime TOTE
Turkon Line Inc TRKU
Universal Africa Lines UALC
US Lines USLU
West European Container Lines WECU
Westwood Shipping Lines WWSU
Wan Hai Lines 22AA
World Logistics Service (USA) Inc WDLS
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics WLWH
Yang Ming Line YMLU
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd ZIMU
AMERICAN FREIGHTWAYS ARFW
AMINO TRANSPORT ANTC
BAX GLOBAL BAXG
Bulk FR8 (Liquid Bulk) BKFB
BAX GLOBAL (air) BNAF
BT EXPRESS FREIGHT SYSTEMS BTEY
CHEEMA TRANSPORT INC CHRP
CARBONITE LOGISTICS CBNP
Central Freight Lines CENF
Carolina Transportation Inc CNPC
Celadon CDNK
Chermak Cartage, LLC CHKA
CJR Trucking, Inc. CJRF
Cheeseman Transport CJRQ
CMA CGM CMDU
China Ocean Shipping Lines COSU
Country Transport COTO
Ease Logistics ELOI
CSX TRANSPORTATION CSXT
Cowan systems, LLC CWAS
CON-WAY CENTRAL EXPRESS CWCE
CON-WAY INTERMODAL CWIM
CON-WAY SOUTHERN EXPRESS CWSE
CON-WAY WESTERN EXPRESS CWWE
DBO Bahnoperator DBGB
Diamond Logistics DMLI
DOT-LINE TRANSPORTATION DOLR
Evergreen EGLV
EMERY WORLDWIDE EWCF
Expeditors International Ocean EXPD
FedEx Custom Critical FDCC
FEDEX GROUND FDXG
FedEx Express (AIR) FDE
FLT LOGISTICS LLC FLJF
Fortune Transportation FTNA
FIFTH WHEEL FREIGHT LLC FWFG
FedEx Freight FXFE
FedEx LTL Freight East FXFE
FedEx LTL Freight West (formerly VIKN – Viking) FXFW
FedEx Freight National (formerly Watkins) FXNL
G & P Trucking, Inc. GPTC
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. HJBT
HOYER Deep Sea HOYO
INTELCOM EXPRESS IEXA
INTERMODAL SERVICES INML
KUEHNE + NAGEL KHNN
Knight Transportation KNIG
Logistic Dynamics, Inc. LDYN
LDI Trucking, Inc. LDYQ
Maersk Line MAEU
MCC Transport Singapore Pte Ltd. MCPU
MGM TRANSPORT MGMC
Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. MSCU
Marten Transport LTD. MTEN
NATIONAL FREIGHT NAFT
North American Van Lines, Inc. NAVI
National Xpress Logistics NXPL
NYK NYKS
NYK NYKU
OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE ODFL
Orient Overseas Container Line OOLU
PAYSTAR LOGISTICS PAYL
PACIFIC LOGISTICS CORP PFLP
PIEDMONT EXPRESS PDME
Precision Logistics Group PLGQ
Panalpina (Pantainer Express Line) PNEP
Prime Inc. PRIJ
Prime Logistics & Intermodal PRML
A. Duie Pyle PYLE
R and L Carriers GMLS
Radiant Global Logistics RGLN
Rowl Trucking ROWL
Rail Delivery Services, Inc. RDSS
Safmarine SAFM
Schneider National SCNN
Schneider National SNCY
Schneider National SNLU
Hamburg S