CBSA signals possible cabotage crackdown

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OTTAWA, Ont. — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has taken steps to clarify its position on cabotage while bringing enforcement in line with that of the US, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) has indicated.

CBSA issued a new Customs Notice on the point-to-point movement of domestic freight in Canada by foreign-based motor carriers and tractor-trailers.

While the notice does not signal a change in the rules, the CTA says it serves as a reminder of what the rules are and may signal that CBSA will be paying closer attention to the activities of foreign-based carriers in Canada.

This will come as welcome news to Canadian fleets and drivers, many of whom have voiced concerns about violations and lax enforcement. The CTA agrees it’s a widely held belief by Canadian carriers that the US is far more aggressive in enforcing cabotage rules.

The CBSA has said it will conduct post-release compliance verifications and issue sanctions against violators.

“The rules are, quite frankly, very complicated – on both sides of the border – so whatever can be done to improve the level of understanding about them is a step in the right direction,” said CTA chief David Bradley. “It is also extremely important that there be a level playing field for carriers based in both the United States and Canada and that is only achievable if everyone plays by the rules.”

However, Bradley also noted the Alliance would like to see a joint approach towards modernizing the current rules in both countries.

“We’re not talking about wide-open cabotage, but I think if anyone were to take a step back and look at the situation, and see different rules for trucks and the people who drive them, and restrictions on something as simple as re-positioning an empty trailer, they would realize that this is an area that is crying out for reform,” he said.

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  • I called the CBSA about a couple of drivers from a large AZ based carrier. They were told they would be working in AB for the next 2 weeks doing P&D work as well as repositioning loads as needed. The one driver showed me the satellite message where his fleet supervisor told him to do it or be fired. When he messaged back to say it was illegal hr was messaged back that they had a waiver grand fathered in under NAFTA allowing their drivers to operate within Canada. While I was on the phone with CBSA the driver got on my phone and basically turned himself in and was going to show CBSA the messages when he got to the border to head into the USA again.
    I know of another large WI based carrier that is doing the lane from AB to ON and PQ that my carrier used to do on the RAIL but lost it to this carrier because they undercut the RAILRATE….