Step 1
Quote
Enter pickup and delivery postal or ZIP codes, pallet count, weight and dimensions. Cross-border carriers on the lane quote with transit time and rating shown.
Cross-Border LTL Shipping Between Canada and the US
Ship pallets from Quebec and Ontario into the United States, and from the US into Canada, with quotes from carriers that cross the border every day. Truxweb gives you an all-in price, generates the paperwork, and connects your customs broker, so a cross-border pallet takes the same few minutes to book as a domestic one.
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Where we ship cross-border
- LTL Canada to Pennsylvania
- LTL Canada to New EnglandMaine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire
- LTL Canada to California
Pickups run across Quebec (Montreal, Laval, the South Shore, Quebec City, the Eastern Townships) and Ontario (the GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton, southwestern Ontario). Deliveries into Canada from any of these regions work the same way in reverse.
How cross-border LTL works on Truxweb
Step 2
Book
Choose a carrier. Truxweb generates the bill of lading. You upload or enter the commercial invoice details.
Step 3
Customs
Your customs broker files the entry. The carrier files its pre-arrival manifest (PAPS into the US, PARS into Canada) so the shipment is cleared before it reaches the border.
Step 4
Cross and deliver
Track the shipment from pickup through the border to delivery.
Step 5
Pay
One invoice from Truxweb. Duties and brokerage are billed by your broker.
Why Canadian shippers pay less through Truxweb
US LTL carriers price on freight class, a system maintained by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association that assigns every commodity a class from 50 to 500 based largely on density. Light, bulky goods land in high classes and pay high rates, and a wrong class means a re-bill after delivery.
Canadian carriers price on dimensional weight: length, width, height and actual weight. No class lookup, no re-classification surprises. Carriers on Truxweb quote cross-border freight the Canadian way, so you get one all-in price up front and the same number on the invoice.
Documents you need
| Document | Who prepares it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bill of lading | Truxweb generates it | Bilingual, carrier and shipper details filled in |
| Commercial invoice | You | Seller, buyer, description, quantity, value, currency, country of origin, HS code if known |
| Canada Customs Invoice | You or your broker | For shipments into Canada; the commercial invoice can serve if it carries the required fields |
| CUSMA certification of origin | You | Only if claiming duty-free treatment under CUSMA/USMCA; can be a statement on the invoice |
| Packing list | You | Recommended for multi-pallet shipments |
| Pre-arrival manifest (PAPS / PARS) | The carrier | Filed electronically before the truck reaches the border |
Customs, duties and your broker
You need a customs broker. The broker files the entry with US Customs and Border Protection for goods entering the US, or the Canada Border Services Agency for goods entering Canada, and pays duties on your behalf. If you do not have one, talk to us and we will connect you.
Importing into Canada. The importer of record needs a business number with an import/export account and a CARM Client Portal account with CBSA. Set this up before the first shipment; it cannot be done at the border.
Duties and tariffs depend on the goods, their value and their country of origin. CUSMA-qualifying goods may enter duty-free with a valid certification of origin. Your broker confirms the rate that applies before the shipment moves. Read what goes into landed cost.
Where the truck crosses. From Quebec: Lacolle–Champlain (into New York, Autoroute 15 to I-87), Stanstead–Derby Line (into Vermont, Autoroute 55 to I-91), Saint-Armand–Highgate Springs (into Vermont, Autoroute 35 to I-89), Armstrong–Jackman (into Maine). From Ontario: Lansdowne–Alexandria Bay, Fort Erie–Buffalo, Windsor–Detroit, Sarnia–Port Huron. The carrier chooses the crossing for the lane; you do not need to.
Transit times
Every quote shows the carrier's transit time for the lane, counted from the point the shipment is cleared to cross. Paperwork ready at booking is the single biggest factor in keeping a cross-border shipment on schedule.
Shipping from the US into Canada
The same carriers run north. Pickups across Pennsylvania, New England and California deliver to Quebec and Ontario. The Canadian importer needs a business number and CARM account, and a broker to file with CBSA. Enter the US pickup and Canadian delivery address and the quote comes back the same way.
Frequently asked questions
01How do I ship LTL from Quebec to the US?
Create an account, enter your Quebec pickup and US delivery address with pallet details, compare cross-border carriers, and book. Have your commercial invoice ready and a customs broker named. Truxweb handles the bill of lading and the carrier files the pre-arrival manifest.
02How do I ship LTL from Ontario to the US?
The same way. Ontario pickups from the GTA, Ottawa and southwestern Ontario cross at Buffalo, Detroit, Sarnia or the Thousand Islands, depending on the destination.
03What is the fastest LTL option from Ontario to the United States?
Every quote shows the carrier's transit time for the lane. Expedited service is available on some lanes; ask when you quote. The fastest shipment is the one whose paperwork is complete at booking.
04How can I compare US-bound LTL carriers from Quebec?
On Truxweb every carrier that serves the lane quotes side by side, with transit time, rating and an all-in price. You compare on one screen instead of calling each one.
05How can I reduce cross-border shipping delays between the US and Canada?
Four things cause most delays: an incomplete commercial invoice, no broker named, a CARM account not set up for imports into Canada, and freight that does not match the paperwork. Fix those before booking and the border is rarely the bottleneck.
06Do I need a customs broker for LTL?
Yes, for commercial shipments in either direction. If you do not have one, talk to us.
07What is the difference between PARS and PAPS?
PARS is CBSA's pre-arrival system for goods entering Canada. PAPS is CBP's for goods entering the US. The carrier files the relevant one before the truck arrives at the border.
08Do I need to know my freight class?
No. Carriers on Truxweb quote on dimensional weight, so you enter length, width, height and weight and get an all-in price.
09Is Truxweb a cross-border freight broker?
No. Truxweb is a marketplace: cross-border carriers quote you directly and you choose. Your customs broker handles the entry; Truxweb handles the freight.
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