TORONTO (Nov. 18, 2002) — Canada’s largest railway said it will offer intermodal customers a more streamlined way to electronically file the necessary data to clear customs under Canada’s Customs Self-Assessment Program (CSA).

Canadian National called its program “a paperless rail intermodal option to CSA importers now using highway carriers.” CSA-approved companies importing goods into Canada will reduce reliance on Electronic Data Interchange, and will be able to file a consolidated record of imports with the CCRA, instead of individual customs entries, the railway said.

CN said the key to its CSA program is the customer’s EDI bill of lading at the point of origin, which activates the CSA “triggers” on the electronic manifests that CN sends to Canada Customs.

CN is designated as a low-risk carrier under CSA, a new Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) program designed to expedite the cross-border movement of goods of CSA-accredited importing companies.

For information, CN said to contact its customs manager at 204/934-8332 or 1-800-267-9779.