TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) are reminding truckers to keep in mind there are some important dates regarding upcoming border and customs compliance deadlines.

On Dec. 28 the transponder cost increase will take effect, moving up from US$205 to US$401.67.

The two groups are strongly encouraging all members to renew or purchase transponders for trucks expected to cross the border in 2016 before the deadline.

Both are also reminding carriers that penalties under the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) take effect, related to the Advance Commercial Information (ACI) eManifest system for non-compliant carriers, beginning Jan. 11, 2016. 

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recently reported less than one percent of carriers crossing the border are arriving with no eManifest at all and three percent of carriers arriving at the border are not meeting the minimum one hour advance time frames, according to the trucking groups.

They warn both of these scenarios could result in a carrier being issued a penalty. The one hour required minimum before a driver can approach the border doesn’t start when the carrier sends the information to the CBSA, but when the CBSA has sent acknowledgement back to the carrier.

CBSA has assured CTA that border security officers will take measures to clear trucks on primary inspections as much as possible, recognizing that this will have to balance with the traffic volumes. Non-compliance will most likely be handled as secondary inspections. 

CTA says it remains cautiously optimistic that Jan. 11 will not result in increased delays at ports of entry into Canada. However, concerns still remain over exemptions, exceptions and empties, and CTA has reiterated to CBSA the importance of ensuring all front line officers are clear on when an eManifest is required and when it is not.

CTA says it will be closely monitoring port operations Jan 11 and the weeks that follow.

Members are strongly encouraged to contact CTA immediately, if they experience lengthy delays, AMPS penalties, confusion at ports of entry or other anomalies in cross border processing.