Cross-border
PARS vs PAPS: which one your load needs
Two acronyms cause more border delays than any other part of cross-border freight. They are simpler than they look.
Every cross-border shipment needs its customs entry filed before the truck reaches the booth. PARS and PAPS are the two systems that make that possible. Which one applies depends only on the direction you are travelling.
The short version
| PARS | PAPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Pre-Arrival Review System | Pre-Arrival Processing System |
| Direction | Into Canada | Into the United States |
| Filed with | CBSA | CBP |
| Who files it | Your Canadian customs broker | Your US customs broker |
| What we do | Send the broker the details, confirm the entry | Send the broker the details, confirm the entry |
How it actually works
The carrier puts a barcode on the paperwork. That barcode ties the truck to the customs entry. Your broker submits the entry against it ahead of time, customs reviews it while the truck is still on the road, and the driver arrives to a decision instead of a queue.
- You book the load and give us your customs broker's contact.
- We send the shipment details and the barcode to your broker.
- Your broker files the entry with CBSA (northbound) or CBP (southbound).
- We confirm the entry is on file before the driver is routed to the crossing.
- The truck arrives, the officer pulls up the entry, and the load moves.
Common reasons a load still waits
- The broker received the paperwork too late to file before arrival.
- The commercial invoice does not match what is actually on the trailer.
- The commodity needs another government department, such as CFIA or FDA, and nobody flagged it.
- The consignee details on the entry differ from the bill of lading.
What you have to do
Two things. Use a licensed customs broker — we are a carrier, not a broker, and we do not want to be. And give us their contact details when you book, not when the truck is already loaded.
Everything after that is ours to manage.