Canada

Canada

Seamless Cross-Border Canada Shipping

Estes goes the extra mile to provide seamless cross-border Canada service you can count on. We make direct shipments to and from just about any destination in Canada and offer regularly scheduled transit lanes to even the most remote areas of the country.

Trust your Canada freight shipping to Estes and enjoy:
  • Complete freight visibility from pickup to delivery, with online shipment tracking and a single PRO all the way
  • A full range of cross-border shipping solutions, including Time Critical Guaranteed and Volume LTL and Truckload
  • Trailers that are frequently equipped with captive beams and our best-in-class Webb walls for peace of mind
  • Three strategically located PARS/PAPS offices that help facilitate prompt customs clearances
Short-haul LTL shipping to Canada

You can count on Estes for reliable short-haul shipping into Canada from several U.S. states. This includes next-day service into Toronto, London, and Windsor from the Midwest, into Montreal from the Northeast, and into Vancouver from the Pacific Northwest. 

With over 280 North American terminals and a comprehensive network of cross-border gateways near major Canadian metro areas, Estes has the footprint, reach, and expertise to get your one- and two-day cross-border Canada shipments where they need to go, when they need to get there. 

Estes customs brokerage

Need a customs broker? Estes also offers customs brokerage services to help streamline the customs process and make cross-border shipping even easier.

Expert cross-border support

Our nationwide team of Border Concierges works round-the-clock to help you navigate language barriers and cross-border documentation. Contact our Border Concierge team today for help with EEI filings, U.S. Customers In-Bond Entries, and more.

Certifications

Estes Canada gateway terminals are Canadian bonded, and we are a U.S. Customs-bonded carrier. Our line-haul and delivery agents are C-TPAT, PIP, FAST, ACE and ACI certified, and pre-approved for Customs Self-Assessment (CSA).

To get Canada shipments moving, you can:

We’re available on both sides of the border to help get you started, and we have experienced, dedicated Border Concierges to facilitate border clearance.

  • A border-crossing fee is added at the time of the rate request
  • Beyond Charges apply to some more remote destinations, primarily in Northwest Canada; for points that require special arrangements, call 1-866-ESTES4U (378-3748) and press 432

Get transit times for your shipment.

Cross-border Canada freight requires:

Northbound Southbound
Bill of Lading Bill of Lading
Canada Customs Invoice (CCI) Commercial Invoice
Commercial Invoice Certificate of Origin (CTO) or USMCA CTO
Certificate of Origin (CTO) or USMCA CTO

Submitting Documentation

Email is the fastest way to get your Canada shipping documentation to us. Send it to us by the day of pickup, and by 2 p.m. for next-day freight delivery.

See submission guidelines for PARS and PAPS to help ensure that your shipments are processed smoothly.

We’ll route the documents before shipments arrive at the border to facilitate timely passage through customs:

U.S.-to-Canada

Canada-to-U.S.

Email requirements:

  • Limit one PRO per email
  • Subject line: PRO number only, no spaces, dashes, or words
  • One attachment only: All documents must be in a single attachment (PDF or TIF)
  • On the BOL, include PRO and barcodes: The online BOL application in My Estes will automatically generate a barcode when the Auto-assign PRO Number toggle is set to on or a pre-assigned PRO is entered; you can also ask your account manager for PRO/barcode stickers; barcodes help ensure freight is processed immediately

Our Time Critical Guarantee is the best in the LTL industry and includes guaranteed on-time appointments, on-time pickups, on-time delivery, and damage-free shipments to and from most destinations throughout Canada, including:

  • Alberta - Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie
  • British Columbia - Fort Saint John, Kamloops, Prince George, Vancouver, Victoria
  • Manitoba - Winnipeg
  • New Brunswick - Bathurst, Edmundston, Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John
  • Newfoundland & Labrador - Corner Brook, Grand Falls, St. John's
  • Northwest Territories - Yellowknife
  • Nova Scotia - Bridgewater, Dartmouth (Halifax), Kentville, Sydney, Truro, Yarmouth
  • Ontario - Brockville (Ottawa), London, Pickering, Toronto (Hamilton), Windsor
  • Prince Edward Island - Charlottetown
  • Quebec - Montreal, Quebec City
  • Saskatchewan - Regina, Saskatoon
  • Yukon - Whitehorse

Protect From Freezing (PFF)

When temperature matters, our PFF service can protect your freight shipment from the Canadian cold between September 15 and May 15. Estes has more than 500 dedicated 53' and/or 28' heated captive beam Webb wall trailers in service between Canada and the U.S. To request PFF, select this option when filling out your online BOL in My Estes or write, “Protect From Freezing,” on your BOL.

Visit our Services page to explore the additional modes of shipping Estes offers, as well as our Accessorials sheet to see a list of our optional non-standard, add-on services.

Truckload

Rates for full, flat-rack, and flatbed loads can be obtained through:

Hazmat Shipping
Estes can transport hazmat shipments across the U.S.-Canada border. Be sure to include the required information on the Bill of Lading, as described here.

Estes offers customs brokerage services that can make Canada cross-border shipping even easier. When you choose our customs brokerage services, you can rest easy knowing Estes will manage every aspect of your Canada shipment from start to finish. Our partner brokers will serve as your connection to Canada customs—working on your behalf to get your cross-border shipment where it needs to go and eliminating the need to search for an external broker.

Ready to take the stress out of Canada cross-border shipping? You can count on our partner brokers to process your required customs documentation and track your shipment’s status as it moves through customs to ensure proper clearance and reduce delays. And we have dedicated Border Concierges available seven days a week, 24 hours a day to help facilitate your cross-border shipping experience!

To arrange for Estes to handle your customs brokerage, please call 1-866-378-3748 x434 or email us.