Want to import some crude oil, natural gas, or wood from Canada?  Maybe you just need a semi-truck full of hockey uniforms. Whatever your needs, have you ever wondered what it takes to get those imports across the border into the United States?

International Carrier Bond

International Carrier Bonds makes sure that people who haul International merchandise follow certain rules. They must properly manifest their goods and follow Custom regulations that cover the clearance of the truck. They are also required to pay for overtime services.

Trucking companies that want to enter the US have to have an international carrier bond. These are only issued from federally-approved Sureties that can write Customs and Border Protection bonds on a certain form; it must be written on CBP Form 301. Once that bond is secured, the company can file the bond at whichever port they use most frequently.

The Right Paperwork in the Right Place

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) loves paperwork just as much as the rest of the federal government. There seems to be a form for all the forms that are required. Good freight companies know which forms have to be submitted, and when to submit those. They also know what format the forms should be given to the department. Some of the paperwork can be submitted electronically and others may not be processed in that manner.

Making sure the paperwork has been done correctly is actually pretty easy. The freight company can call the port before the shipment gets there; this ensures smooth passage through the port. Paperwork verification may take longer and cause shipping delays if this simple step is skipped.

Certain paperwork absolutely must be with the driver when he or she crosses the border. These forms include a Proof of Bond, Bill or Sale or Commercial Invoice. The truck has to have a federal-government issued permit. The driver may need immigration paperwork, as well.

Don’t Forget about the Driver

The person who operates the truck is very important. Not just because they actually drive across the border, but because they can stop the whole process. The company may have made sure the bond was approved and the paperwork was all taken care of, but if they hired a driver who has criminal or legal issues, they may have really messed up. If the driver can’t be admitted, the truck can’t enter the United States either.

Driver’s with DUI convictions are never a good combination. But, if this driver has one, he or she could be barred from coming back into the United States. If the driver has more than one DUI, they will have a harder time entering again. The CBP may also deny the driver if the crime is severe.