(The Canadian National Railway issued the following press release on March 19.)
TORONTO, Ontario — CN and customs brokerage company Livingston International today announced the joint development of a new electronic link to increase the speed and accuracy of customs clearance processes for Canadian importers.
CN, in a transportation industry first, now sends manifest information to Livingston electronically instead of by fax. This eliminates the need for Livingston to key in faxed data into its computers.
Tom Ruth, Livingston’s senior vice-president for Canadian and U.S. brokerage, said information such as an importer’s name automatically triggers the transmission of the manifest directly from CN to one of 40 client service teams at Livingston. Upon further processing, complete information is sent electronically to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) officials for a clearance decision.
CN has for years transmitted advance manifest information electronically to the CCRA, while the manifest delivery to brokers was through a fax process. The automation of this information delivery with Livingston completes the electronic customs cycle for rail shipments.
Ruth said: “This advance will speed the customs process and improve the accuracy of the data. It’s a big step forward and we’d like to develop similar electronic links with other major surface carriers.”
Anita Ernesaks, vice-president of e-Business at CN, said: “The new electronic manifest link between CN and Livingston will accelerate the customs clearance process and help our customers better manage their supply chain costs. It’s also another example of ways in which CN is trying to make it easier for its customers to do business with the railway.”
Livingston International Inc. is Canada’s leading customs broker and trade services company facilitating trade between the United States and Canada. Based in Toronto, the company has more than 70 offices and approximately 1,650 employees located at key border points and other strategic locations across Canada and the United States.
Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, St. Louis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.