Canada plans system to expedite border crossings

Jan. 16, 2007
A Canadian plan to develop an automated system to expedite carrier border crossings at the US-Canada border should improve efficiency and security

A Canadian plan to develop an automated system to expedite carrier border crossings at the US-Canada border should improve efficiency and security, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA).

The plan comes with funding of $400 million (Canadian, US $343 million) and will include the creation of an electronic truck manifest that carriers will use to submit cargo, conveyance, and crew information to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) before the truck arrives at the border. By the time the truck arrives, a decision on whether to allow the truck to proceed, or refer it for examination, will have been made.

Other positive aspects of the announcement involve a plan for closer cooperation with the United States on border contingency planning, and harmonization of the supply chain security programs, CTA said.

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