Resources
Tools and guides to help you ship with confidence.
Service Guide
A complete overview of all nine Celsius Connect service modes — from full truckload to warehousing — with specifications and use cases.
View ServicesCross-Border Shipping Guide
Everything you need to know about moving freight between Canada and the US — CUSMA basics, documentation requirements, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Read BelowCoverage & Corridors
Our primary service corridors across North America. See the regions we serve most frequently and where our carrier network is deepest.
View ServicesCarrier Requirements
What you need to haul with Celsius Connect — authority, insurance, safety rating, and equipment requirements for joining our carrier network.
View RequirementsCross-Border Shipping: North America
Moving freight across the Canadian–American border adds layers of documentation, compliance, and coordination that domestic shipments don't require. This guide covers the essentials.
Understanding CUSMA
The Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, formerly NAFTA) governs trade between the three countries. For freight moving between Canada and the US, CUSMA determines whether your goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment. Qualifying goods may enter duty-free or at reduced rates — but only with proper documentation. A certificate of origin, commercial invoice, and correct tariff classification are essential.
Required Documentation
Every cross-border shipment requires a commercial invoice, bill of lading, and customs declaration. Depending on the commodity, you may also need: a CUSMA certificate of origin (for preferential tariff treatment), phytosanitary certificates (agricultural products), CFIA import permits (food, plant, or animal products), or dangerous goods documentation (TDG/DOT compliance). Missing paperwork is the single most common cause of border delays.
Common Pitfalls
The mistakes we see most often: incorrect tariff classification leading to unexpected duties, missing or expired certificates of origin, incomplete commercial invoices that trigger customs holds, and using non-bonded carriers for in-bond shipments. Each of these can delay your freight by days and add unexpected costs. Working with a logistics partner who coordinates customs documentation alongside the freight — rather than treating them as separate processes — eliminates most of these issues.
How Celsius Connect Helps
We coordinate customs brokerage alongside every cross-border shipment. That means your documentation is prepared before your freight reaches the border, not after it's held up there. Our carrier network includes pre-approved bonded carriers on both sides of the border, and we handle CUSMA certificate coordination, duty drawback tracking, and compliance documentation as part of the service — not as an add-on.
Have Questions?
Our team is here to help with shipping questions, documentation requirements, or anything else freight-related.