Customs Self Assessment Program
Approved Carriers

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Related link

D-memorandum

Forms

  • E647
    Customs Self Assessment Program Carrier Application – Part 1
  • E656
    Customs Self Assessment Program Carrier Part II Application

Participating carriers and registered drivers in the highway mode have the option of clearing CSA-eligible goods more quickly at the border once identification confirms that the importer, carrier and driver have been pre-approved.

With this streamlined clearance process, transactional transmissions of data related to eligible goods are no longer needed.

Benefits

The CSA program provides many benefits to carriers:

Application Process

Eligibility

Carriers eligible to apply to the CSA program must meet these requirements:

Dispatch system – A key requirement

A dispatch system, be it manual or electronic, is a cornerstone of the CSA program. Only carriers that own and control their own dispatch system are eligible to apply. Applications from carriers who have contracted a third party or service provider to manage their dispatch system may be refused.

Carriers must demonstrate that they track and record all shipment details (pick-up location and date, delivery location and date, description of goods, etc.) and control all their shipments with an internally generated sequential trip/pro/control number that is assigned to a shipment the moment the order is booked.

Application

There is a two-part application and approval process for carriers.

Part I – Risk assessment

Carriers will have to give detailed information such as the following:

Part I carrier application: E647

Part II – Books, records and dispatch systems

Carriers will be asked to illustrate the following:

Part II carrier application: E656

As a CSA-approved Carrier…

Reporting

Tips and tools

Electronic Data Interchange
CSA-approved carriers are eligible to report electronically and should contact their CSA Senior Program Officer for more information.

CSA reporting requirements support a streamlined border clearance process and vary by mode. CSA clearance is used to request the "authority to deliver" CSA-eligible commercial goods that are imported by a CSA-approved importer. A distinctive feature of the CSA environment is that cargo documents are not required to clear CSA-approved shipments. However, when requested by a border services officer, the reporting CSA-approved carrier must provide satisfactory evidence concerning the discharge of goods imported into Canada. The CSA-approved carrier is required to have the records, systems, audit trails and linkages in place to support the CSA process.

Carriers and importers participating in the CSA program have demonstrated to the CBSA that they are low-risk clients. Drivers must present the following bar codes at the primary inspection line (PIL) to a border services officer. The officer will scan the bar codes and they are validated by the CBSA system to authorize the shipment for CSA clearance and delivery:

Required information in approved bar-code format:

CSA clearance facilitates the direct delivery of eligible goods to the importer, owner or consignee. For more information regarding the presentation of bar codes at the PIL, see Memorandum D3-1-7, Customs Self Assessment Program for Carriers.

Sealing requirements

Since CSA-approved carriers have been determined to be low risk and have proven internal control procedures, they are not required to seal the conveyance when moving goods inland. However, there may be occasions when sealing is required, for example when a carrier is moving high-risk goods or when a shipment has been selected for further examination by the CBSA.

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