5 Things to Consider When Cross-Border Heavy Equipment Shipping 

You’ve been searching for a new piece of heavy equipment for months, and though you’ve been combing numerous auction listings, you just can’t seem to find what you’re looking for. Then, unexpectedly, at an auction where you didn’t expect to find much, it’s right there in front of you. The exact machine you’ve been looking for for so long. You start to make plans to participate in the auction when something stops you. The machine isn’t located in Canada. It’s in the United States. How will you get it across the border?

With reliable heavy haul shipping, nothing, not even borders, should stop you from getting the heavy equipment you need. 

Finding a Customs Broker

Finding a customs broker to help you handle trans-border shipping will make the process much smoother. Shipping equipment across the border does add a few steps to the job, but customs brokers are there to make it easier for you. They know all the details of getting your shipment through customs, and they will do their best to ensure that you don’t pay any more than you have to. They handle all the paperwork, make sure all regulations are followed, and help you avoid any delays or holdups at the border.

To help you find an excellent customs broker, Trusted Dispatch has a list of recommended customs brokers for your convenience.

Preparing the Proper Paperwork

To (legally) cross the border, you’ll need to provide several documents. You’ll need receipts for proof of purchase, as well as proof of ownership of the load. Another important document is your bill of lading, which details all the specifics of the shipment, such as the destination and exactly what is being shipped. This helps prevent theft and ensures that the shipment includes the right items.

For help with preparing these documents, we recommend hiring a customs broker from this list.

Using a Company that Transports Across the Border

Before you pick a company or driver to carry your load, you need to make sure that they can transport loads across the border and that they have significant experience. Our goal is to make this seemingly-complicated process smooth and straightforward. Trusted Dispatch works with a number of drivers in our network that have considerable experience in cross-border shipping, so you know your shipment is in good hands.

Calculating Additional Fees and Tariffs

Don’t forget to take additional fees and tariffs into consideration when planning a trans-border shipment. Though Trusted Dispatch strives to provide fair, transparent pricing, cross-border costs are not included in the shipping price or free quote. No one wants to face surprise charges, so hiring a customs broker will help you accurately factor in these additional costs when shipping your equipment.

Boosting Your Load 

When using Trusted Dispatch, you may want to consider boosting your load, which raises the price of the shipment and helps to entice drivers to claim your load when it needs to be shipped over the border. This is an optional step that you can take to find a driver faster. 

Another scenario that may happen is that a driver may reach out and make an offer. This may be an all-in offer to complete the shipment and cover any long-haul or pilot vehicle costs, if required for your shipment. The cost of a customs broker or any additional traffic and fees will still need to be handled by you. 

Securing the Equipment Properly

Securing equipment properly before shipping a load is extremely important, and safe shipping is Trusted Dispatch’s number one priority. That’s why we ensure that our drivers are well experienced in heavy haul shipping.

There are also ways that you, the shipper, can help prepare your load to make securing the equipment easier for the driver. Attaching a clear photo of the equipment to your post on our load board ahead of time helps drivers visualize how they will load and position your machine. Knowing ahead of time the arrangement of the trailer helps drivers arrive better prepared. We also recommend cleaning your equipment in order to check for any possible damage that could interfere with securing the load. And by parking your machine in a flat, open space, you can ensure that your driver will be able to load your equipment.

Shipping Heavy Equipment to Canada

Trusted Dispatch is fully prepared to help you ship your heavy equipment across the border. We are here to answer any questions you may have, and are available via email, phone, and online chat through our website. Our experienced drivers will make sure your equipment is transported as safely and efficiently as possible, and our recommended customs brokers will make the paperwork process seem like nothing. 
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