Field notes from the Canadian border.
Practical playbooks and case studies from our brokers. No thought-leadership fluff — just the stuff we wish every importer knew before they called us in a panic.
Carrier vetting moves downstream: what Canadian importers now owe their brokers and forwarders
The Montgomery ruling south of the border shifts negligent-carrier liability to brokers. In Canada, importer liability for non-compliant carriers was already settled law. Here's what that means for your CAD filings, RPP bonds, and how much you tell your forwarder about who's hauling your goods.
Read article →Cross-Border Carrier Liability and What Canadian Importers Need to Know
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on broker liability shifts how carriers price risk. Canadian importers using U.S.-origin freight should review their CARM Client Portal bond coverage and understand when carrier limits trigger duty exposure at CBSA release.
Read article →Freight broker liability and what it means for Canadian importers choosing U.S. carriers
The U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that federal preemption does not shield freight brokers from state negligent-hiring claims. For Canadian importers who rely on U.S.-side carriers arranged by brokers, the decision clarifies liability questions but also underscores why your customs broker should verify carrier credentials before PARS pre-arrival notifications go live.
Read article →When Lean Inventory Meets Tight Drayage Capacity: Canadian Clearance Implications
US tender rejections and rising haulage costs are forcing importers to rethink just-in-time inventory strategies. For Canadian cross-border shipments, tighter carrier capacity changes the math on RPP bond sizing, dwell risk, and whether your CAD filing window can absorb two-day drayage delays.
Read article →China carrier rate fines and what they mean for Canadian import pricing
China's Ministry of Transport is fining major container lines for freight rate filing violations. For Canadian importers, the ripple effect shows up in contract amendment clauses, mid-voyage surcharge disputes, and CARM CAD pricing reconciliation. We break down how to protect your duty base and landed cost when carrier pricing shifts mid-contract.
Read article →Container spot rates climb mid-2025, but cross-border customs cost is what sticks
Transpacific container spot rates posted double-digit jumps this week, but Canadian importers filing CADs against FAK rates plus peak-season surcharges should watch the duty math more closely than the freight invoice.
Read article →Due Diligence in Broker Selection: What Canadian Importers Should Verify Before Signing
Choosing a customs broker is more than comparing per-entry fees. Canadian importers face real liability when a broker files incorrect CADs, misses CUSMA origin claims, or posts inadequate RPP bonds. Here's what to verify during onboarding.
Read article →LNG-fuelled containerships and Canadian customs: what fifteen thousand TEU means for your CAD workload
Ocean Network Express has ordered six 15,900 TEU LNG dual-fuel newbuilds. Larger vessels mean more PARS transmissions, tighter release windows, and heavier RPP bond exposure when containers arrive in Montreal and Vancouver. Here's what the shift to ultra-large feeder tonnage does to your CBSA filing cadence.
Read article →Canadian customs brokerage consolidation: what smaller shops risk when market pressure builds
U.S. brokerage exits are pushing freight volume toward larger 3PLs. For Canadian importers, broker consolidation changes who holds your CAD filing history, RPP bond capacity, and CBSA relationship. Know what to ask before your shop folds or sells.
Read article →CBSA Confirms Five-Year Extension on Oil Country Tubular Goods AD/CVD — Filing Notes for Importers
CBSA's OCTG expiry review closes with continued anti-dumping and countervailing duties on pipe from nine territories. If you import drill pipe, casing, or tubing for oil and gas projects, nothing changes on the tariff side, but the CAD coding and proof-of-origin requirements still trip up brokers who don't file SIMA goods daily.
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