Purolator USA Endorses U.S. and Canadian Chambers’ Recommendations for Improving Border Efficiency

JERICHO, NY — July 28, 2009 — Purolator USA offered its support for a new report by the U.S. and Canadian Chambers of Commerce that calls on the U.S. and Canadian governments to evaluate current border clearance procedures and to take immediate action to improve efficiency by streamlining processes, eliminating exorbitant fees and addressing growing wait times.

The report, “Finding the Balance: Shared Border of the Future” calls attention to a “thickening of the border” between the two countries, and draws attention to the fact that, while the two countries enjoy the world’s largest and most open trade relationship, regulatory mandates in recent years have had a chilling effect on the efficiency and growth of that relationship.

“As both the U.S. and Canada begin to recover from the economic recession, it is imperative that both our governments do what they can to facilitate, rather than impede the flow of goods across our border,” said Purolator USA President John Costanzo. “This report does an excellent job of calling attention to some important issues that need to be rectified going forward.

Among the recommendations of the report:

  • Integration of all “trusted shipper” programs so that shippers cleared for participation in one program are not forced to participate in other programs that may be redundant. In addition, government should work to lower costs of participating in these programs, which can be as high as $100,000.
  • Governments should take steps to reduce wait times at the border by adjusting manpower and resources to meet peak traffic times, eliminate collection of fees at the border, and by allowing greater access to pre-clearance facilities, which may be located away from the actual border at warehouses, processing centers and manufacturing facilities.
  • Elimination of redundancy that can occur when shipments are inspected multiple times, by various government agencies, at different stages of their transportation cycle. The report cites the fact that automobiles that utilize both U.S. and Canadian parts in their manufacture may cross the border approximately seven times during the various stages of production. In the process, these autos must endure as many as 28,000 customs and security clearances, and ensure multiple delays each time a border crossing is required.

Purolator USA offered support to help prepare this report. “Our commitment to this undertaking calls attention to the serious issues that affect cross border trade,” says Purolator’s Costanzo. “Once we have identified the issues that hamper the flow of goods between the two countries, we can take steps to correct them.”

Costanzo also pledged his company’s support to work with all government agencies – Canadian and American – to ensure that the border clearance process is as efficient and effective as possible.

For more information about Purolator USA, please visit www.purolatorusa.com.

About Purolator USA

Purolator USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of Purolator Courier Ltd, Canada’s leading overnight courier company. Purolator USA specializes in the air and surface forwarding of small packages and freight shipments, customs brokerage and delivery to, from and within the North American market.

Purolator USA has doubled the size of its U.S. office network during the past 18 months, with branches or gateways now operating in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Philadelphia and Raleigh/Durham and New York.

Share: