Why I Don't Drive a Truck Into Canada

In an article in the Globe and Mail it was reported: "It doesn't make sense that someone can't take their lunch across the border," complained Mark Seymour, president of trucking company Kriska Transportation of Prescott, Ont. "It's not like packing a weapon. It's not contraband. It's food, and if it wasn't safe, they wouldn't be eating it." In the past couple of weeks, Mr. Seymour said two of his drivers have been searched and fined $300 (U.S). They were also detained for hours. One of the truckers, he said, was carrying a soy burger and a can of Campbell's Chunky soup in a lunch packed by his wife. Both items were confiscated."

The tactics of our own border security, aka Customs, has long before 9-11 left a lot to be desired. If you entered Canada with some paperwork amiss, the folks there might be aggravated with you, but they took time to address the issue in a professional manner. Make that same mistake bringing product into the U.S. and you will be either fined, or sent back to Canada, or both.

Simple paperwork errors can be costly, if nothing else, in bridge tolls to run back and forth.

The attitude on the American side of the border has always been one of master/slave, do it their way, or suffer the fate of a low level government employee on a power binge.

"The food issue began with a recent directive from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, banning the importation of all fruit, vegetables and meat for personal use, he said. But his association has not been able to determine what U.S. law or regulation is being applied to prohibit lunch items."

It probably is only prohibited in the small minds of the agents, and reinforced by their superiors to indicate they are doing worthwhile work.

"Many truckers, he lamented, are getting out of the business because they've decided making trips to the United States just "isn't worth the hassle."

Anecdotal evidence also suggests that Canadian exporters are increasingly shifting operations to the United States to avoid problems at the border."

I made that decision years ago, I'm not adverse to taking supplies northbound across that border, as U.S. agents are not involved in outbound freight, but I'll be damned if I was willing to be treated as a second class citizen by some second rate government employee who wanted to impress me with his/her authority.

I wasn't impressed.

Monty Rhoades is a staff writer for Truck Net