How to apply for a Carrier Code?
Click HereHow to apply for a SCAC code?
Click HereBarcode Label Order Form
Click HereStarting a career in the transportation industry as a carrier involves several key steps.Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get started:
Research the Industry
- Understand the Market: Learn about the different types of transportation (e.g., freight, passenger, logistics, etc.), the demand, and the key players.
- Identify Your Niche: Decide whether you want to focus on local deliveries, long-haul trucking, specialty transport (e.g., hazardous materials), or another niche.
Develop a Business Plan
- Define Your Services: Clearly outline what services you will offer, the areas you will cover, and your target customers.
- Financial Planning: Prepare a budget, including start-up costs, operational expenses, and projected revenues.
- Marketing Strategy: Plan how you will attract customers and build your brand.
Register Your Businessn
- Choose a Business Structure: Decide whether to operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation.
- Obtain Necessary Permits: Register with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and get a Motor Carrier (MC) number if required.
- Insurance: Get the appropriate insurance coverage, including liability, cargo, and workers’ compensation.
Get the Required Licenses and Permits
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL): Obtain a CDL if you plan to drive commercial vehicles. This often requires passing written and practical exams.
- Other Certifications: Depending on your niche, you might need additional certifications, such as Hazmat endorsements, Passenger endorsements, or Tanker endorsements.
Build Relationships
- Network: Join industry associations, attend trade shows, and connect with other professionals.
- Customer Relationships: Focus on building strong relationships with customers to ensure repeat business.
Market Your Services
- Online Presence: Create a professional website and utilize social media to reach potential customers.
- Local Advertising: Use local advertising methods such as flyers, local newspapers, and community events.
- Partnerships: Partner with logistics companies, freight brokers, and other businesses to expand your reach.
Establish Operations
- Hire Staff: Depending on the scale, hire drivers, dispatchers, and administrative staff.
- Implement Systems: Use software for route planning, fleet management, and logistics tracking.
Stay Compliant and Updated
- Regulations: Keep up with industry regulations and ensure compliance with all legal requirements.
- Continuing Education: Regularly update your skills and knowledge through courses and certifications.
Additional Tips
- Customer Service: Provide excellent customer service to build a positive reputation.
- Efficiency: Optimize routes and manage fuel costs to maximize efficiency.
- Safety: Prioritize safety to protect your drivers, cargo, and reputation.
By following these steps and remaining adaptable to industry changes, you can successfully start and grow your career as a carrier in the transportation industry.
Here is more information you may find useful as a carrier:
RNS
RNS, which stands for Release Notification System, is a highly recommended means of verifying whether Customs clearance has taken place prior to arrival in Canada. RNS affords many advantages by offering carriers a complete overview of the activity on their carrier code as reported directly by CBSA.
C-TPAT/PIP
The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program is a partnership between the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the supply chain industry. C-TPAT focuses mainly on protecting the United States against acts of terrorism by improving security while speeding the flow of compliant cargo and conveyances.Click here to learn more.PIP stands for Partners in Protection, a program in which member carriers and importers agree to implement high security standards in exchange for being recognized by CBSA as low-risk.Click here to learn more.
Barcode Labels
A & A Customs Brokers has a partner who offers label printing for all of your cross border needs. Click here to begin!
PAPS
Pre-Arrival Processing System – for entry into the USAClick here to check PAPS status
PARS
Pre-Arrival Review System – for entry into CanadaA & A Manifest labels (A8A) – Cargo Control is a bar coded label. It is affixed to a 5 part A & A form. One label is needed for each part of the form but only 3 parts are scanned by Canada Customs & Revenue Agency CCRA.Click here to check PARS status
Customs Clearance
In order for goods to be allowed to enter Canada or the USA, they must either be customs cleared or authorized to move in bond.Customs clearance will usually require a formal entry under the PARS or PAPS process, but a variety of other shipment clearance types exist for exceptions. Moving goods in bond also require a formal process. Generally, the process requires receiving the appropriate paperwork from the shipper, and attaching a PARS or PAPS sticker and sending it off the appropriate broker for your shipment to be cleared. Once the broker receives your paperwork they will start to work on it in a timely manner.
What is required from the carriers side is to create an ACE manifest (shipments into USA) or an ACI (shipments to Canada) through a service provider, such as Border Connect. A manifest requires the following information, a trip number, driver’s ETA to the border, the PAPS or PARS number, driver information, conveyance and equipment information, shipper and consignee information and the description of the goods (commodity, weight, peice count) once you complete a manifest, you are to submit it for processing. Any paperwork you had submitted to your broker will be linked to your manifest through CBP/CBSA.
Bonding
A licensed transporter that customs allows them to carry goods whose duty isn’t paid. A bonded carrier posts security with the CBSA to cover the following situations:Movement of goods to a CBSA office inland (not located at the border) for release of the shipment; Movement of goods “in transit” through Canada. The bonded carrier uses Canada as a corridor, or a shortcut, by starting from a point outside Canada and then transiting through Canada to another point outside Canada (e.g. U.S. -> Canada -> U.S.). The goods in transit are not released in Canada; Movement of goods into Canada for export to a foreign market (e.g. U.S. -> Canada -> China).
Permits and Regulations, Infractions, IFTA, Prorates, Safety, Hours of Service
Transponder for frequent cross border travel
If you are a carrier who will be crossing the border frequently, it may be beneficial for your fleets trucks to purchase transponder for easier travel to and from the US.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/182/~/user-fee—decal-amounts-and-payment-addresses
The Decal / Transponder Online Procurement System(DTOPS) is an easy way for Commercial Vehicles, Private Aircraft, and Private Vessels (thirty feet and over) to purchase their Annual User Fee online. Commercial Vehicle purchasers also have the ability to request replacement transponders, transfer vehicles into their fleet, and maintain their fleet inventory.
https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov/
Travelling with pets
https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/imports/import-policies/animal-products-and-by-products/eng/1320833457085/1320851008731
Carrier Related information
Google maps – https://www.google.ca/maps/@54.1123525,-126.5556456,5z?hl=enRoute Calculator – http://truckmiles.com/
Weather
Environment Canada – http://weather.gc.ca/canada_e.html – Canadian GoverntmentNational Weather Service – http://www.weather.gov/ – US GovernmentThe Weather Network – http://www.theweathernetwork.com/Provincial Ministry of Transportation OfficesBritish Columbia – http://www.gov.bc.ca/tran/Alberta – http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Saskatchewan – http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/Manitoba – http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/Ontario – http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/Quebec – https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/en/Pages/Home.aspxNew Brunswick – http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/dti.htmlNova Scotia – http://novascotia.ca/tran/Prince Edward Island – https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/transportation-infrastructure-and-energyNewfoundland – http://www.tw.gov.nl.ca/Yukon – http://www.hpw.gov.yk.ca/Northwest Territories – https://www.idmv.dot.gov.nt.ca/Nunavut – http://www.gov.nu.ca/edt
Provincial Trucking Associations
British Columbia Trucking Association – http://www.bctrucking.com/Alberta Motor Transport Association – http://www.amta.ca/Saskatchewan Trucking Association – http://www.sasktrucking.com/Manitoba Trucking Association – http://www.trucking.mb.ca/Ontario Trucking Association – http://ontruck.org/Quebec Trucking Association – http://www.carrefour-acq.org/Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association – http://www.apta.ca/Truckers Association of Nova Scotia – http://www.tans.ca/Trucking PEI – http://www.truckingpei.ca/?f
Truck Stops
Pilot/Flying J Travel Centers – http://www.pilotflyingj.com/Travel Centers of America (TA/Petro) – http://www.ta-petro.com/North American Truck Stop Network – http://www.natsn.com/Blue Beacon(Truck Wash) – http://www.bluebeacon.com/
Fuel Prices
North American Fuel Prices – http://www.gasbuddy.com/
A & A is a customs brokerage and trade compliance services provider for companies shipping across the border on a regular basis.
