Broker to prescreen trucks at Sarnia Blue Water Bridge

SARNIA, Ont. (March 24, 2003) — To prevent congestion leading to the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia, Ont., and Port Huron, Mich., Livingston International said it has created a pre-processing centre for U.S.-bound commercial shipments at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation inspection station on Hwy. 402.

Staff from Livingston, Canada’s largest customs broker, “will be available 24/7 to review customs documentation to ensure it is complete,” said Larry Hahn, Livingston’s director of regulatory affairs.
“After review, documents will be faxed to the appropriate U.S. customs broker. By initiating the process in advance of trucks’ arrival at the border, we intend to reduce line-ups.”

Dan Elash, president and chief executive of the Blue Water Bridge Authority, said the facility is a co-operative effort by the Ontario government, the bridge authority, and Livingston “to expedite trade across the Canada-U.S. border at this time of heightened security.”

Plans for a long-term centre are under consideration, he said.