First Load to Canada

Get all your paperwork to your customs broker in ample time for them to have it cleared before you get to the border. Phone your broker when you're 6-8 hours away from the border to make sure you're cleared. Cross in the middle of the night (or very early morning) if you can; chances are the border will be less busy and the agent will be more interested in getting back to whatever "water cooler conversation" they're having. Make sure you don't have any guns or kiddie porn and you should be good to go.

I don't know if Americans crossing back into the U.S. have to pay a fee, but I would if I didn't have the customs transponder.







Other than that, we'll let them know you're coming...

 

Oh yeah, here's a website for Canadian border wait times. I don't know how accurate it is as I never use it (all my crossings are in the prairies/B.C. and I rarely wait more than 5-15 minutes). There are some webcam sites showing the borders as well, but you'll have to Google those.

 

If you're headed to Kitchener, I guess you'll be crossing here (Detroit). I have heard a lot of the local guys barking that Sarnia is a better place to cross, except that it may be out of route. I 75 is closed in downtown Det., but I think it is open far enough to get to the bridge. If you come in on 94, you will be fine (take it to 96 east, that will dead end you into the long line of trucks waiting to cross).

I have also heard the Canadian folks are nice enough, but the folks on our side of the border can be quite crappy. Good luck!

 

Port Huron/Sarnia is a much better place to cross than windsor/Detroit.

 

Avoid Detroit if you can....the route up through Port Huron/Sarnia is less than 20 miles difference in distance, and then take the 402 down to the 401 to Kitchener. You will avoid the flats going from London to Windsor (site of countless wrecks) as well as have a (usually) faster crossing.
Where you heading from Kitchener? Since that's my hometown, I would be happy to give you any advice you need....either pm me here, or email me.

 

Those directions sound right as I have been there about 3 times.

AVOID THE CASINOS

 

Casinos? Did I miss something somewhere...there aren't any casinos in Kitchener/Waterloo.

As for no-truck-routes, they are clearly marked (and there's only a few of them). No low bridges come to mind, but the 'grid' that we're laid out on looks more like spaghetti.