Bonded and Non-Bonded Highway Carrier Code Requirements

Carriers have 30 days after issuance of their carrier code to obtain bar coded labels. After the 30 days, if the carrier does not use his bar coded labels when arriving at the Canadian border, an administrative penalty of a $1,000 will be imposed to the carrier.
Carriers that have not obtained their own carrier code should do so immediately. Upon application, (form E-369 for non-bonded carriers and form E-370 for bonded carriers) the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will issue a personal 4 digit carrier code (dash considered as a digit). This carrier code, when combined with a unique shipment number (that you choose) and properly bar coded, will help the CBSA to identify both the carrier and shipment when the release documents are presented at the border.
The combination of the carrier code (XXXX) plus a unique shipment number (example: 12345) creates a cargo control number (CCN) that should look like this:

Section A

Printing Options For Carriers Who Use A Cargo Control Document(Note: If you wish to use the PARS service option - see Section B)

Option #1 - The first option is to have your own cargo control documents printed with your bar coded personal carrier code and shipment number printed directly onto the form. One of the advantages of having your own forms printed is that you can also have your company name, logo, address and other related information printed on the form, reducing the need to type in the same information for every shipment.

Option #2 - The second alternative is to have a series of your personal carrier code plus a unique shipment number printed on a set of five self-adhesive labels that can then be attached to a blank five page cargo control document available from the CBSA.

Example of printed labels

Note that the shipment number changes with each set of labels. Each shipment must have its own unique number and the numbers cannot be repeated within a three year period. When ordering labels, be sure that your shipment number has sufficient characters to allow for a minimum of three years worth of shipments.
Using a blank cargo control document - A8A(B), place each of the labels from a set of 5 self adhesive labels, all with the same shipment number, on each of the pages in the cargo control document in the space marked "Carrier Code - Cargo Control No." as illustrated below:
To order the blank forms, please call 1-800-959-2221 and ask for a supply of blank Cargo Control Documents - number "A8A(B)". There is no charge for the blank A8A(B) forms, however, usually a 1 year supply is sufficient.

Section B

Pre-Arrival Review System (PARS Process)
In order to use PARS:

• invoice/bill of lading must be sent to the broker at least 2 hours before the goods arrive in Canada.
• PARS process must be used at an automated port. For non-automated ports, refer to process in Section A.

Unlike the multi-page cargo control document outlined above, the PARS process only requires one label per shipment. In order to identify shipments to the CBSA as participating in the PARS process, the word "PARS" must be included on the label. It may be printed either above the bar code or under the human readable number below the bar code. If the word "PARS is included as part of the cargo control number, between the carrier code and shipment number, it must also be included in the actual bar code. The carrier's name or company logo may also be printed on the label.

The first four digits of the bar coded label will be your personal carrier code followed by the word "PARS" if included as part of the number, and then by a unique shipment number. Each shipment must be assigned a new number and the shipment numbers must not be repeated for a minimum period of three years.

The PARS process only requires one label per shipment. The PARS bar code may be applied to the invoice or to the bill of lading for the shipment. A cargo control document is not required with the PARS process unless you get a Failed PARS (see Failed Pars Procedures). This information is then faxed to the appropriate customs broker at the Canadian border. The driver should have the original and a photocopy of the bar coded paperwork in hand when he/she arrives at the Canadian border.

If the invoice or bill of lading consists of more than one page, only one bar code is needed on the first page; the pages should be numbered "page 1 of 4", "page 2 of 4" and so on. At the border, the CBSA officer will use a bar code reader to read the PARS label on your paperwork. If the shipment is cleared, the officer will date stamp your PARS invoice/bill of lading and the photocopy (not any other additional copies) and return it to you as proof of customs clearance. You may then deliver the shipment. We will return the stamped photocopy to the customs broker.

Failed PARS Procedures

As you know, there are situations where a PARS has not been processed by the time a carrier arrives at the border.
In these situations, the shipment is either released at the border using Release on Minimum Documentation (RMD) or forwarded in bond. In order to avoid duplicate release of these shipments, the cargo control number (CCN) submitted with the PARS request must be re-used on a cargo control document. The CCN must be handwritten or typed on a blank cargo control document form A8A(B), which are available at no cost and can be ordered from the National Distribution Centre by calling 1-800-959-2221.

Alternatively, carriers may use their own pre-printed cargo control documents and cross out the existing bar coded number and type or neatly handwrite the original failed Pars number in the Previous Cargo Control Number block. In either instance, a notation "Failed PARS" must be marked in the description field of the cargo control document.
The original invoice or bill of lading with the PARS bar code should be given to the customs broker to include in the RMD package. This will allow CBSA officers to wand the bar code in the system instead of keying it in.

Please note that handwritten/typed cargo control numbers on A8A(B) will not be accepted for any reason other than a Failed PARS. Carriers will be subject to a penalty under the Administrative Monetary Penalty System for failure to comply with bar coding requirements for all other reporting and release processes.
Failed Pars should not happen regularly. If so, please check with your broker to identify and resolve the problem.

Section C

Bar Code Readability Testing

Sample bar coded/human readable cargo control numbers must be tested to ensure they meet departmental standards for readability. It is the responsibility of all companies including the printing firms to initially obtain approval of their bar codes and to resubmit samples whenever there is a change to the printing process used. Original bar coded document samples or bar coded labels should be submitted for approval to:

Canada Border Services Agency
Systems Operations Division
250 Tremblay Road, 6th Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0L8
Att: Nathalie Jubainville
Tel: 613- 957-7223

Duplicate Number Warning

Regardless of which option you choose, the shipment number may not be repeated for a period of three (3) years. If you use both service options, make sure that the numbers used for your PARS shipments and the numbers used for your RMD shipments are not the same. The computer does not distinguish between the service options and will reject all duplicate numbers.

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