We’re here to help you seamlessly ship your freight across the US-Canada border.

As your Transborder partner, we offer:

• comprehensive Transborder service to the US
• industry-leading on-time performance
• seamless track and trace capabilities
• border clearance at seven strategic border crossings
• direct service to over 90% of US population

You can request a quote or create a shipment online in just a few minutes. If you’re not sure where to start with your Canada/US transborder shipment, get in touch with our Sales team today.

While it’s a complex process, it doesn’t need to be difficult. Knowing what documentation is required, how to describe your commodities, and what each country’s security requirements are will help ensure your freight reaches its destination on time.

Check out our cross-border shipping tips below. 

National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC)

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) is the US organization that represents interstate, intra-state, and international motor carriers. 

NMFTA publishes the NMFC, grouping LTL shipped commodities into eighteen classes designated based on four criteria:

• Density
• Handling
• Stowability
• Liability

Freight shipping classes range from 50 to 500, with 18 separate classes. Lower numbers mean easier and more cost-effective shipping, while higher numbers indicate more difficult and expensive shipping.

Why NMFC class matters

Freight classification mistakes and inaccurate Bills of Lading for your LTL shipment can cause delays and unexpected charges. If Day & Ross needs to reclassify your freight due to incorrect information on your BOL, it takes time, energy, and incurs additional costs for us and you, as the shipper. 

What’s changing

The first Phase of changes coming into effect in July 2025 will impact carriers, shippers, and 3PLs.

NMFCs will have a simplified classification system for LTL shipments, removing ambiguity between NMFC and class. Commodity listings will be condensed for easier identification of items and freight classes. NMFCs without handling, stowability, or liability concerns will move to a 13-tier density-to-class table.

How to get ready

• Audit your commodity classification to avoid unexpected costs from density scale shifts.
• Ensure accurate dimensions, weight, and density to prevent misclassifications and added expenses.
• Stay informed about NMFC updates that can affect freight rates.
• Package your freight properly to minimize excess air and optimize weight for density-based classes.

How to calculate your freight class

Use a trusted source like the NMFTA ClassIT tool to calculate your freight class. It provides class numbers based on your commodity's weight and dimensions, ensuring you avoid errors when you provide accurate data.

There are 2,023 NMFC#s on the Docket 1 list. Is your item changing? Find out instantly by using the free lookup tool provided by NMFTA. Register now to use the tool.

For more details about NMFC and NMFTA see our Shipper Checklist and visit:

NMFC & Freight Classification   
NMFC Changes
NMFC Changes for Shippers

Are you compliant with cross-border security?
Canada/US cross-border shipments are subject to measures and programs to enhance border security. 

As a carrier transporting shipments across the border, Day & Ross is compliant with Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) and Partners in Protection (PIP) standards. As a cross-border shipper or partner of Day & Ross, it’s your responsibility to be compliant with these programs to ensure your shipments clear through customs without any security issues and reach their destination on time. 

Complete our Cross-Border Security Audit Questionnaire to let us know if you’re CTPAT and/or PIP compliant.

Your non-compliant status may:

• lead to Day & Ross refusing your shipments 
• impact our cross-border status and our ability to operate
• pose a risk to your supply chain

CTPAT is a security program of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It enables CBP to streamline cargo security through cooperation with importers, carriers, consolidators, customs brokers, and manufacturers to prevent the movement of illegal shipments and Dangerous Goods across the border.

PIP is the Canadian equivalent of CTPAT, established by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to enhance border and trade chain security.

When you ship from Canada to the US, you need to provide proper documentation:

• Bill of Lading
• Proforma Invoice (preferred) or a Commercial Invoice
• National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) code and class
• CUSMA /USMCA certificate of origin

There is no official certificate of origin template issued by CUSMA, but they do require that you submit your own. Any format is acceptable, as long as it contains the minimum data elements. You can also use the documents and forms supplied by your own customs broker as long as they contain all the required information as per the US Customs & Border Protection. Always give a copy of the shipping documentation to the driver at the time of pickup. Inaccurate or incomplete information may result in delays.

To determine the NMFC for your shipments, please refer to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) guidelines and definitions of a shipment’s actual class.

As your trusted partner, we appreciate your continued support in ensuring that all transborder shipments are compliant with current regulations.

Make sure you electronically submit the required shipment information in compliance with the Advanced Commercial Information (ACI) eManifest before you ship your cross-border freight. This allows Canadian customs officials to screen your shipment before it reaches the border.

You’re also required to provide detailed commodity descriptions on the Bill of Lading (BOL) and the Commercial Invoice or Proforma Invoice. If you don’t, it might delay your shipments. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) requires you to answer the following questions:

• What is it?
• What is it made of?
• What is its intended use?
• How many are there?
  

For example, if you’re shipping baseball caps, make sure your commodity description says “baseball caps” instead of “caps” to provide CBSA enough information to clear your shipment for entry into Canada.

Visit the CBSA website for a list of acceptable commodity descriptions.

Our participation in CBSA ACI eManifest, Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT), and Partners in Protection (PIP) allows us to move customers’ shipments across the border as long as they provide the proper documentation.Shippers who aren’t compliant with these regulations may impact our program certification status, and as a result, may disrupt your own supply chain too.