Following is a CN Customs Bulletin
Further to the customer advisories we have shared in the recent weeks, we continue to be successful with our efforts to decongest the ports. We have moved forty percent more traffic to Toronto and twenty five percent more cargo to Montreal each week since we started this initiative.
While all efforts are being made to maximize utilization of all CN authorized off site depots, we are still seeing a large number of import containers dwelling at our Toronto terminals. CN is moving Customs-cleared containers to the offsite facilities, however the volume of Customs-cleared containers is insufficient to address the congestion. This situation impedes us from continuing this positive momentum that we have worked hard to build. As a result we are forced to look at alternate options which enables us to shuttle additional containers.
In consultation with Federal Government agencies, CN will be handling some Toronto-destined cargo over CN’s Mississauga Intermodal Service Center (MISC) (Port 0495/sub-location 5974).
The goal is to increase the volume of imports that can depart the ports thereby reducing the time, container ships are anchored in Canadian ports. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is participating in this solution and has established processes to be followed.
CN will pre-identify containers once they depart a port in Western Canada and will notify CN’s immediate customers of the change within 24 hours of train departure. While this initiative targets containers moving from ports in Western Canada only, this may be extended to ports in Eastern Canada as well should the need arise.
Please view CN Customs Bulletin #68 for more information on the process and for answers to our customers’ most common questions.