CN’s extensive customs experience in North America means that your goods can get across borders easier and with less hassle than ever. Once we receive your shipping documents electronically, we expedite the process by forwarding the data to every link in your service delivery chain, whether it’s the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ocean carriers, other rail carriers, customs brokers or any other partners. You even can trace your shipment online. This means your shipments can move virtually error-free across borders to get to their destinations faster!

List of critical transborder data requirements (all transborder shipments)

• Railcar/intermodal unit initials and number
• Shipper’s name, address, city, state/province
• Ship-from name, address, city, state/province (if different from shipper)
• Consignee’s name, address, city, state/province
• Ship-to name, address, city, state/province (if different from consignee)
• Total number of pieces and package type (smallest packaging unit)
• Complete and accurate description of goods
• Total weight and unit of measure of goods
• All seal numbers affixed to railcar/intermodal unit
• Country of origin
• Complete route

**For Canadian origin shipments transiting the US to a 3rd country, a CBSA export declaration citation is required on the shippers’ bill of lading

**Other government agency documents and permits as required

We’ll work with you to make sure that you have all the documentation necessary to get you shipments across the Mexico border smoothly. And thanks to our partnership with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) we’re always current with any changes to the automated processes used by Mexican Customs, so you don’t experience unnecessary delays.

Additional bill of lading data requirements for Mexico destined shipments

• Final consignee’s name, address, city, state
• Importer’s name, address, city, state
• Mexican Customs broker’s name, address, city, state
• U.S. freight forwarder’s name, address, city, state

CN connects directly with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system to report all cargo destined to and passing through the United States, which means your shipments can clear the U.S. border in seconds! All transborder manifest data is transmitted in advance of train arrival at the border for customs preprocessing. And thanks to CBP’s Secondary Notify Process (SNP), CBP is able to electronically notify you, your agent, and CN instantly on the release status of your shipments.

CN is currently working with CBP on automation of the export manifest process which, when completed, will incorporate CN’s export manifest into CBP’s ACE system to further streamline CN’s transborder process.

CN connects directly with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System (ACROSS), transmitting manifest details electronically on transborder shipments. Similar to the CBP process, CN transmits the data prior to train arrival at the border for preprocessing by CBSA in order to ensure expedited train movement and shipment release across the border. CN’s electronic link with CBSA allows for release statuses of transborder shipments and ocean to rail shipments to be instantly available to customers.