OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (Dec. 23, 2002) — Less-than-truckload giant Yellow Transportation announced it has received Customs Self Assessment (CSA) approval from the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA). The CSA initiative is designed to streamline the customs process for low-risk shipments moving from the US to Canada through improved data collection and processing.

CSA focuses on establishing a partnership agreement, based on risk assessment and improved technology, between the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) and businesses. CSA certification is intended to help increase cross-border shipment efficiency by electronically transmitting shipment data to Canadian Customs shortly after pickup. This improves handling and processing of customs-related information and reduces unnecessary delays at the Canadian border.

To qualify for CSA expedited shipping, Canada-destined goods must be of U.S. manufacturer origin, and the carrier, driver, and Canadian importer must all be CSA certified. The CCRA manages the risk of this self-assessment approach through profile targeting of the importer, carrier, and driver. The CCRA also verifies compliance by occasionally examining goods at the border, and by conducting compliance verification reviews. CSA also helps Customs to distinguish between high-risk and low-risk shipments, thereby focusing on those that are higher risk.