Offloading goods during highway examinations
The CBSA has the authority under the Customs Act to require carriers to offload (or unload) and present their goods at the border for examination.
You may choose to offload the goods yourself. For convenience, we have a pre-approved offload service provider at a number of the high-volume designated commercial offices. Find out where to find this service and how much it will cost to use if your vehicle is selected for examination.
Where is the pre-approved service provider located
The CBSA has pre-approved Employment Professionals Canada as an offload service provider. They provide services at the following locations:
- St. Stephen, NB
- Woodstock, NB
- Lacolle, QC
- St-Armand, QC
- Sault Ste. Marie, ON
- Lansdowne, ON
- Prescott, ON
- Niagara Falls, ON (Queenston Bridge)
- Fort Erie, ON (Peace Bridge)
- Windsor, ON (Ambassador Bridge)
- Sarnia, ON (Blue Water Bridge)
- Emerson, MB
- North Portal, SK
- Coutts, AB
- Aldergrove, BC
- Osoyoos, BC
- Kingsgate, BC
- Huntingdon, BC
- Pacific Highway, BC
If you will be reporting your commercial shipment at a location other than those listed above, have the contact information of a local offload service provider in case the CBSA identifies your shipment for examination.
Qualifications
Employment Professionals Canada successfully met or exceeded the following conditions established by the CBSA:
- All labourers have a valid enhanced security clearance
- A minimum of one labourer per offload has the valid licences or certificates and the proper training to operate offloading equipment
- The service provider provides all equipment and supplies required for conducting offloads and reloads, including forklifts
- The service provider is bonded and carries appropriate liability insurance
- The service provider is on-site during core hours and at all other times will report to the site within two hours
- The service provider will offer competitive fixed pricing for offload services and payment options
Offload rates
All persons reporting goods are responsible for all costs related to offloading and reloading their conveyance. The CBSA is not involved in financial transactions that take place between the carrier and their offload service provider.
Table 1: Core hourly rate for Employment Professionals Canada employees, as of
| Monday to Friday, 8 am to 12 am (excluding holidays) |
First employee (in CAN$, excluding provincial taxes) |
Each additional employee (in CAN$, excluding provincial taxes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st hour | 982.09 | 392.99 |
| 2nd hour | 340.05 | Not applicable |
| Each additional hour | 200.00 | 200.00 |
Table 2: Off core and weekend rates for Employment Professionals Canada employees, as of
| Saturday to Monday, 12:01 am to 7:59 am | First employee (in CAN$, excluding provincial taxes) |
Each additional employee (in CAN$, excluding provincial taxes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st hour | 1,149.42 | 392.99 |
| 2nd hour | 392.99 | Not applicable |
| Each additional hour | 200.00 | 200.00 |
Table 3: Holiday rates for Employment Professionals Canada employees, as of
| Applicable provincial and statutory holidays | First employee (in CAN$, excluding provincial taxes) |
Each additional employee (in CAN$, excluding provincial taxes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st hour | 1,217.35 | 498.85 |
| 2nd hour | 498.85 | Not applicable |
| Each additional hour | 200.00 | 200.00 |
Note: Cash is not accepted. Call 905-246-2618 or 905-658-1026 to request pre-approval to pay cash.
Offloading goods yourself
With the approval of the examining border services officer, carriers may offload their goods themselves or hire another service provider of their choice. If another service provider is hired, the provider must respect health, safety and security requirements of the port of entry.
The examining border services officer may consider the following when approving an alternate arrangement. The carrier or other provider:
- must supply the appropriate equipment to safely perform the offload
- is qualified to safely operate the equipment
- is insured to cover all liabilities
Highway examination guidelines
The CBSA is not responsible for offloading or reloading of goods from or onto conveyances. (trucks, container vehicles, etcetera).
During an examination, carriers must:
- remove, as appropriate, any covering from goods
- unload any conveyance or open any part of the conveyance
- unpack any package or container that the border services officer wishes to examine
Timeline for presenting your goods
Once a carrier is notified, they must present their goods for examination within 2 hours.
Failing to present goods within this time period contravenes the Customs Act.
If goods are not presented within this time frame, an administrative monetary penalty (C026) under the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) may be assessed for failing to report goods. For more details, refer to the AMPS Master Penalty Document.
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