TORONTO, Ont. — The Ontario Trucking Association is urging Ontario shippers exporting to the U.S. to enroll in C-TPAT.

Ontario shippers are eligible to apply as C-TPAT Importers, the association reports. Enrollment in C-TPAT is the shipper qualifying component to participate in the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program. In order to qualify a shipper must be the Importer of Record for shipments into the United States. This involves acquiring an Import Bond and having a U.S. agent who will act on their behalf (Typically, the shipper’s U.S. Customs Broker will act as the agent if they do not have a U.S. office.) Ontario shippers should contact their U.S. Customs Brokers and indicate their interest in becoming involved in C-TPAT.

Currently, there are approximately 560 C-TPAT approved shippers with Canadian addresses, of which 140 are based in Ontario, reports the OTA. C-TPAT enrollment will enable shippers to team with FAST approved carriers to enjoy benefits of the FAST program, including preferential treatment of their goods at the border, fewer inspections by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and expedited transit and release of their goods into the U.S.

For further details on the benefits of FAST for trucking companies and their customers, the OTA asks interested parties to please refer to the following article about the success of the FAST program at the Blue Water Bridge – http://www.ontruck.org/news/news/2004/pnews_2004_04_01_162748_msoffice.php3

For details on the C-TPAT program for shippers please refer to the following link – http://www.ontruck.org/info/information/border-ctpat-import.php