Furry Friends Cause Trucking Border Delays At Canadian Border

To prevent reintroduction of rabies carried by dogs into the United States, new CDC regulations require proof of healthy pets at border crossing.

Truckers who take their furry best friends with them over-the-road have more requirements when hauling loads back and forth from Canada.

Related: What U.S. based carriers need to haul freight into Canada

That’s right, there may be long delays at the border if pet owners are not prepared for August 1^st rule changes.

According to the CDC, the new requirements require all dogs entering the United States to:

• Appear healthy upon arrival
• Be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form online submission receipt , which should take a few minutes to complete

The receipt is valid for 6 months from when it’s issued unless the dog visits a high-risk country during that time and each dog must have its own form.

If you are bringing more than one dog to the U.S., you will need to complete a separate form for each dog.

CDC Dog Import Form receipt can be printed or shown on a phone screen to U.S. customs officials or airlines (if applicable).

According to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, “if implemented as currently outlined, the policy could delay shipments carried by commercial drivers who are traveling with their dogs, which could potentially lead to a logjam in secondary inspection and cause backups that would impact all truck drivers, whether they’re traveling with a dog or not.”

How to Pet-Proof your truck

Your dog will get used to your trucking lifestyle in no time. Here are some basic tips when having a pet in your truck:

• When you first start training your dog, create a barrier between your dog and your pedals. Then, after they get used to the environment, you can remove the barrier.
• Have plenty of fresh water available in a semi-full water dish on the floor of your truck.
• Store chewable items like medicine, food, or trash in compartments and out of your dog’s reach.
• Have a leash handy and use it at every rest stop.
• Keep vaccination records, CVI, and other necessary paperwork in your truck, such as proof of rabies vaccination and tags.
• Prepare for the trip and potential breakdown or delays by having enough food and treats for a couple weeks.
• Store cleaning supplies and air fresheners for pet bathroom issues, if they ever happen.

Plan to haul into Canada? Get your CBSA Carrier Code now!

Before hauling freight into Canada, your company must be setup with the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) by applying for a CBSA-issued carrier code, a four-character unique identifier used to identify you as a carrier.

The Carrier Code will be used in the PARS (Pre-arrival Review System) and carriers must have printed barcodes available to attach to all bill of ladings (BOLs).

To apply for a carrier code, the first step is to determine if you need a non-bonded or bonded code. Bonded highway carriers are permitted to transport in-bond goods beyond the first point of arrival in Canada and between points in Canada.

If this seems confusing, we at CNS can help you with the CBSA carrier code process to get your Canadian trucking authority.