U.S. Grants Cabotage Rights to Canadian Trucks

Canadian trucks bringing loads into the United States now will be allowed to make an additional point-to-point haul within the U.S. — but their drivers will not.

The change in U.S. Customs Service regulations on cabotage is designed to bring U.S. and Canadian cabotage practices into conformity, so far as trucking is concerned. Cabotage restricts foreigners from hauling freight domestically.

Until now, Canadian trucks used in international service could not legally carry another shipment within this country — even though U.S. trucks could do so within Canada after dropping off a crossborder shipment.

Under the rule issued Feb. 16, a Canadian truck carrying cargo originating in Canada to, say, Baltimore, may pick up a second load to some other U.S. destination before returning to Canada. This will permit Canadian carriers to compete more effectively, said the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

For the full story, see the Feb. 22 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.