Commercial Carrier and Freight Forwarder Identification and Eligibility
CBSA guidelines: Highway carrier code application process

Who are carrier codes issued to

For the purpose of assessing carrier code eligibility, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) defines a carrier as a person involved in international commercial transportation who reports cargo to the CBSA and/or who operates a conveyance used to transport specified goods to or from Canada. To operate a conveyance means to have legal custody and control of the conveyance. 

The CBSA issues one carrier code per mode per legal entity. Should subsidiary companies be separate legal entities from parent companies, each subsidiary company can apply for a carrier code.

Reporting cargo and conveyance data to the CBSA

With the implementation of eManifest, highway carriers transporting goods into Canada are required to transmit cargo and conveyance data electronically to the CBSA prior to arrival. Please refer to the Commercial reporting requirements page of the CBSA web site for more information.

The Internet-based eManifest Portal is one option for transmitting data. Highway carriers code applicants who wish to use the eManifest Portal should indicate "YES" in the applicable field of their carrier code application in the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) Client Portal (CCP). This will automatically request a Shared Secret (temporary access code) that a business requires to register for the eManifest Portal the first time.