In its 23 October customs bulletin, logistics firm Axxess International relayed a Canada Border Services Agency reminder that 26 western land-border crossings—nine in British Columbia, four in Alberta and thirteen in Manitoba—will adopt new seasonal operating hours starting 1 November at 02:00 local time. The changes, first announced in CBSA notices on 9 October, affect both commercial and traveller lanes, though hours may differ by service type at each port. Carriers are urged to verify individual port schedules to avoid after-hours arrival fees or unplanned layovers. For exporters moving just-in-time shipments to U.S. customers, the reduced window could mean rescheduling driver dispatches or using alternative crossings such as Coutts-Sweet Grass or Pacific Highway, which retain 24-hour service. Importers should also alert U.S. brokers to revised estimated-time-of-arrival data to prevent entry rejections in CBP systems tied to port hours. Companies with bonded warehouses near affected crossings may face congestion in the first week of implementation as drivers unfamiliar with the changes arrive early or late. Axxess recommends issuing driver briefing sheets and updating GPS route files before the end-of-month weekend. CBSA says the hour reduction aligns staffing with lower winter traffic volumes and will be reviewed in spring 2027.
Source: Axxess International
