Cross-Border Freight Planning: Lessons From the First Call Team
Drawing on operational insight from Brock Hubble and Dalton Parker, First Call Logistics
Cross-border freight can be disrupted by relatively small planning gaps: shipment information that is not aligned, a carrier arrangement that does not fit the lane, or a delay the transportation plan did not account for. Drawing on operational insight from Brock Hubble and Dalton Parker, this article looks at several areas worth addressing before freight moves.
Get Shipment Information Aligned Before Freight Moves
Cross-border transportation depends on accurate shipment information reaching the parties responsible for the move. Problems can arise when key details are missing, inaccurate, or inconsistent across the shipment information shared among the shipper, carrier, and customs professionals supporting the move.
Before freight moves, confirm that key shipment information is accurate and consistent where applicable and that the carrier and customs professionals supporting the shipment have the information they need. Addressing discrepancies before the truck reaches the border can help reduce the risk of an avoidable interruption to the transportation plan.
“Every shipper handles its cross-border shipments a little differently.”
—Dalton Parker, Account Manager, First Call Logistics
Understand Carrier and Equipment Requirements for the Lane
Carrier and equipment arrangements for cross-border freight depend on the lane, the operating authority involved, and the specific shipment, not a single fixed pattern. First Call evaluates those requirements as part of planning each move, since what works for one cross-border lane doesn’t automatically apply to another.
Depending on the move, the same trailer may continue across the border or the freight may be transferred between trailers as part of the transportation plan.
“It all depends on their authority.”
—Brock Hubble, Sales Consultant, First Call Logistics
Plan for Delays Without Assuming Every Border Issue Has the Same Solution
Not every border delay has the same cause or the same solution. Documentation issues, customs processing, inspections, congestion, facility schedules, or other conditions may affect when a shipment can proceed. The appropriate response depends on the circumstances and the parties responsible for the shipment.
From a transportation standpoint, the practical lesson is to build flexibility into the plan rather than assuming every disruption will be resolved the same way.
Account for Driver Hours and Transportation Handoffs
Border delays can affect more than the shipment waiting at the crossing. Lost time may affect a driver’s remaining legal driving availability, the next transportation leg, and downstream appointments. Hours-of-service requirements also differ depending on where a driver is operating, making carrier planning especially important on cross-border moves.
Planning for border variability means considering what happens to the transportation schedule if the crossing takes longer than expected, not just what happens to the freight at the border.
“The priority is rightly on safety…”
—Brock Hubble, Sales Consultant, First Call Logistics
Know Who Owns the Customs Process
Cross-border freight involves multiple parties, each with a distinct role. A licensed customs broker can perform customs business on behalf of an importer, but the importer of record remains responsible for exercising reasonable care regarding the entry and applicable import requirements.
A transportation provider like First Call plays a different role: coordinating shipment information, carrier timing, and communication between the parties involved, without taking on customs clearance itself.
Knowing who owns which part of the process before freight moves can help reduce confusion if something needs to be resolved quickly.
CBP’s guidance supports this distinction: the importer of record is responsible for exercising reasonable care in entering, classifying, and valuing merchandise, while a licensed customs broker may prepare and file entry documentation on another party’s behalf.
Visibility and Communication Matter When the Plan Changes
Cross-border freight can involve additional handoffs, including carrier, facility, equipment, and customs-related coordination. When a plan changes, timely communication becomes especially important so the parties involved can adjust the transportation plan around the new information.
How First Call Supports Cross-Border Freight
First Call coordinates freight moving between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico around shipment requirements, carrier and equipment needs, timing, communication with customs professionals, and transit visibility.
Talk with our team about the transportation requirements for your next cross-border shipment.
Planning a Cross-Border Shipment?
First Call helps coordinate cross-border freight around carrier and equipment needs, timing, customs-professional communication, and shipment visibility.