Canada Pre-Processing Center

[chetjester]

I hate to give out information that might make the line longer, but I feel like I've made a discovery (probably something the rest of you already know).

I hate crossing into America in Windsor/Detroit. The Ambassador Bridge can be backed up for miles sometimes. And if I have to go to the toilet???? Fuggettaboutit!!!

It seems the Ambassador Bridge is privately owned. And, the owners have set themselves up two pre-processing centers. One is at the Customs Facility in Windsor and the other is at Exit 177B on the 401.

The other day I went to the London center. For $4.00, I got my Inbound Manifest and Invoice faxed with a PAPS barcode to the correct broker (my company doesn't have its' own PAPS). And, along with that $4.00 fee, I got a "placard" that let me travel down Hwy 3 in the left car lane and then onto the bridge in the left car lane all the way through to Customs!!! I bet I saved at least 3 hours Tuesday doing that!!

And, if I had my own PAPS, it would still be worth the $4.00 for the placard to get me to the head of the line.

For Sarnia, no placards are available, but they will still process PAPS for you.

Does everybody know about this or am I telling all y'all something new and big?

 

[davekc]

The only thing to add is that make sure you get in the right lane if you don't have the bridge pass. If you don't, they make you go inside to pay the bridge fee. This applies to entering the US whether empty or loaded. Keep in mind that nothing is marked to indicate this. We made that mistake a while back only to find that certain lanes don't have cash registers.
Davekc

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Actually it's been like this for awhile now. Since we're F.A.S.T. as long as your load is, line released, PAPS'ed you can use the left lane. But only at the Ambassador Bridge going into the U.S.

At Sarnia if your EMPTY and FAST you can use the FAST lane on the left. entering Canada.

 

[chetjester]

Glad to hear that about Sarnia and F.A.S.T. Got my card last Tuesday. Thought I would never get it processed.

Thanks Dave, about the correct F.A.S.T. lane. When I was being processed in Windsor, they had instructions on a marker board explaining the need to use the correct lanes if you don't have a #4 decal and have to pay the $5.00 customs fee.

 

[davekc]

Remember that even though you may be fast approved, you must have the bridge pass to use the left lanes in Sarnia coming into the US. That applies whether you are loaded or empty. They want their $5.00 dollars and there are no cash registars in these left lanes. You will be oked by customs, but then you must go inside to pay your $5.00. We found out the hard way.
Davekc