Question regarding border crossing

Yes. If there's something in there that's not suppose to be, it's on you. If it's unseal, open it up and check. Going into the states, I can see certain type of people who was to sneak in.

 

Was it stored in any kind of locked yard where it was dropped and you picked it up? Haven't dealt with your situation in a long time but the last time I did the border guard asked if I crawled to the back of the trailer and the load was potato chips and i said no. Into secondary I went....

 

Your carrier should be providing you with this info. Cross border loads must have a ctpat compliant seal, which is usually a bolt seal. You better know #### well what's in your trailer; your the driver pulling the load. If you don't load it yourself, it should have a manifest with it at the least. Your inspection book should also have a statement in it stating that you have done a ctpat inspection for contraband.

 

You need to ask your boss if the company is ctpat compliant. Plastic seals tell me they are playing footloose and fancy free.

If they look at you with a stunned look..... You better do some digging for info. I cross the border five nights a week, for the last 15 years.

 

Not every company is in the ctpat program... Him saying the yards left unlocked during the day would mean it's not. The rules are very strict and the audit all the time.

 

Not all cross border shippers do this, but most I've dealt with over the last several years insist on putting a bolt style seal on the trailer and record the seal number on the bol before they'll let you leave, even if it's just peat moss. The only time I've taken a trailer across the border without a bolt seal in the last 5 years or so it was an empty trailer and I had my own padlock on it. If you ticked the boxes on your daily inspection report saying you did your security inspection you are saying you know what's in the trailer and nothing's there that isn't supposed to be. You are ultimately responsible, regardless of what your company says.

 

Its amazing how often I see a border crossing where there is no seal on the trailer. Ours are all cable seals (Which are a pain in the butt to cut till I figured brute force works well.) I've been at the border waiting my turn and see a guy jump out and put a plastic seal on the trailer in front of me. Oh well guess I can do is keep following the rules.