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May 28, 2010

Every Canada-bound carrier will have to obtain a CBSA carrier code

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued a customs notice to advise stakeholders that it will no longer accept generic itinerant carrier codes for any mode of transportation, effective April 1, 2011.

With the implementation of eManifest (advance commercial information) in the highway mode in September 2010, carrier codes will become a regulatory requirement for all carriers, thereby harmonizing carrier identification with the eManifest initiative.

The generic itinerant highway carrier code "77YY" will no longer be accepted for commercial cross-border activity. A unique carrier code, assigned by the CBSA, will become a part of the setup process for eManifest.

In order to allow carriers and drivers currently using code "77YY" to obtain a carrier code, a transition period will begin on May 1, 2010, until the final elimination of code "77YY" on March 31, 2011.

A carrier code is a four-digit unique identifier that is assigned by the CBSA to a carrier. With the implementation of eManifest, all carriers, regardless of how often they cross the Canadian border with commercial goods, will require a carrier code.

The carrier code is combined with a unique shipment number (chosen by the carrier) to create a cargo control number.

The cargo control number is critical because it identifies both the carrier and shipment to the CBSA at the time of reporting and when release documents are presented.

(Customs Notice CN10-009 Elimination of Itinerant Carrier Codes)