US Cabotage

  • Thread starter Thread starter ranger_dispatch
  • Start date Start date
R

ranger_dispatch

Guest
Hello Everyone,

I just wanted some clarification on US Cabotage rules and any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

My question is " Can a Canadian based carrier use Canada plated trucks/trailers, BUT hire a US driver and do US to US work?

Thanks in advance for all replies.
 
That's what I thought as well, but does anyone know where I can find this info in writing ?
 
There are 2 parts the driver and the conveyance. Drivers are covered by Immigration laws, while Conveyance and cargo are covered by Customs and Security laws. ( Officers with white shirts at Immigration and ones with blue shirts are customs ) Foreign drivers are prohibited from working within the USA without the proper paperwork or permits, and foreign based conveyances are prohibited from making point to point domestic moves within the USA. Even if you licence and permits say it's ok, customs will have the final say. This would have to do with taxes paid on the purchase of the conveyance and if the US got there's
 
  • Like
Reactions: chica123
Your corp. must have register address in USA and that only happens when you are legal to run a business in USA as per FMCSA rep. But some companies like Autobahn Freight lines have US drivers in their fleet. Gave them a couple of loads last summer out of TX. they had US drivers on them who brought freight to their Romulus yard as per dispatcher for Canadian drivers.
 
I believe they relay in Romulus and have US plated trucks that do the rest. I've heard that Charger does the same thing.
 
YYZRIDER said:
Your corp. must have register address in USA and that only happens when you are legal to run a business in USA as per FMCSA rep. But some companies like Autobahn Freight lines have US drivers in their fleet. Gave them a couple of loads last summer out of TX. they had US drivers on them who brought freight to their Romulus yard as per dispatcher for Canadian drivers.
Click to expand...

As long as your tractors are IRP plated your equipment can legally work in the USA, regardless if the business is international, interstate, or intrastate commerce. Having a USDOT number is a condition of proper operating authority, not a condition of whether the equipment is legal or not. You do not need to be a U.S. registered corporation. However, you do need an EIN (employer identification number) from the IRS to pay your taxes.
As for drivers, Canadian drivers can work point to point in the U.S. under a very strict set of rules;
1) If the goods are of Canadian origin, and have not been processed, or enhanced in value in any way, a Canadian driver can pick up in the U.S. and deliver in the U.S. i.e. Canadian boxed widgets that are stored at a warehouse in Altoona, PA can be picked up and delivered in Denver, CO by a Canadian driver. We have already established the truck and trailer can do this legally. If Bubba Smith in Altoona so much as writes a number on the boxes, they are considered to have been processed and the rule does not apply.
2) A Canadian driver can switch trailers with another Canadian driver at a point in the U.S. and deliver to a point in the U.S. provided the goods are of Canadian origin, and, it serves the exigencies of the hours of service rules.
3) Canadian drivers can re-position empty equipment between points in the U.S. provided they either a) enter and/or exit with a trailer, and b) the trailer is used in international commerce.

As to the OP's question ... " Can a Canadian based carrier use Canada plated trucks/trailers, BUT hire a US driver and do US to US work?"
The answer is unequivocally "Yes".
As an added bonus you can also hire North American Aboriginals, pay them in Canada, and avoid paying U.S. payroll taxes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: YYZRIDER
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom