OTTAWA, Ont. ViaSafe’s TradeGate technology is now available to USF Corporation.

TradeGate is an electronic business service that focuses on facilitating the exchange of documentation between carriers moving goods into Canada and the customs brokers/importers who are responsible for customs declarations. ViaSafe TradeGate is part of an overall solution being developed in collaboration with the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers (CSCB), whose members handle about 80 per cent of commercial import transactions.

"TradeGate has the unique ability to connect carriers, brokers and government agencies with continuously updated directories which automatically send the right documents to the right participants in a timely fashion," says Oryst Dydynsky President, ViaSafe International Trade Services.

The TradeGate solution ensures the comprehensive data required for clearance is provided electronically before shipments arrive at the Canada-United States border.

ViaSafe’s TradeGate technology is intended to bring the transportation industry closer to the goal of having one transparent, yet secure system that will essentially eliminate the reams of paper being filed every day and increase border clearance efficiency.

“TradeGate allows a level and quality of communication between carriers and customs brokers that is unique and innovative. I congratulate USF on their commitment to a service that is revolutionizing trade chain communication,” says Carol West, CSCB.

"At USF we are always looking for ways to provide further value to our customers," says Richard Brooks, USF Managing Director, Canadian Business Development. "With this technology, we’ll be able to increase efficiencies and reduce the costs associated with the clearance process."

ViaSafe’s TradeGate Technology has many benefits to the customs clearance process, say company officials, including:

 Shorter border waiting times result in meeting delivery deadlines, customers expectations, and improving service
 Electronic distribution and delivery of commercial data and documentation reduces manual errors and increases levels of compliance
 Individualized web accessible customer files
 Ability to create files that will route customer documentation to their broker automatically
 Capability to send customs documentation to various Customs brokers or other parties
 Immediate shipment visibility from any office, warehouse or terminal
 Produce a complete document trace for a CCRA audit
 Eliminate the cost and the effort of storing paper archive by utilizing the TradeGate archiving capabilities
 Full compliance with the coming electronic legislation: Canadian ACI and US AMS.

USF Corporation provides supply chain management services, offering transportation solutions across North America through a network of independently operated companies that compete collectively. USF’s five regional trucking companiesUSF Bestway, USF Dugan, USF Holland, USF Red Star, and USF Reddawayprovide industry-leading next-day, regional (USF PremierSM) and national (USF PremierPlusSM) less-than-truckload services. USF Glen Moore is provides premium regional and national truckload services. USF Logistics Services is a full-service provider of transportation management, contract warehousing, dedicated fleet, cross docking, domestic ocean services and reverse logistics. Transportation and logistics services in Mexico and across the United States/Mexico border (USF MexicoSM) are offered by all USF companies. USF Technology Services is a provider of information integration and support services to USF and its customers, including USF Net Web-based services. For more information, visit www.usfc.com.

About ViaSafe
ViaSafe is a provider of secure electronic logistics services for global trade. The myViaSafe services enable rapid, secure, accurate transactions by connecting importers, exporters, carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and government agencies or departments. ViaSafe, endorsed by the Canadian Communications Security Establishment, currently facilitates more than 40% of all import transactions into Canada. For more information, visit www.viasafe.com.

About the CSCB
Canadian Society of Customs Brokers members include the majority of Canadian customs brokers, and many associate members involved in trade, transportation and logistics. A key priority for the CSCB is to work with government and the private sector to develop innovative solutions to emerging challenges for the international trade community.