Canada and U.S. Border Crossing Restrictions

From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when most cross-border traffic was shut down, essential travelers, including truck drivers, have been able to cross between Canada and the United States unimpeded. As essential workers, truck drivers were exempt from vaccine requirements before entering Canada and the United States. Drivers have also been exempted from previous federal vaccine mandates that apply to air, rail and marine sectors.

All of that is about to change!

Canada has set January 15, 2022 as the deadline for a vaccine mandate that will apply to all border-crossing truck drivers. The United States has announced plans for a similar mandate that will apply to border-crossing truck drivers effective January 22, 2022.

The vaccine mandate requires all persons crossing the border, including truck drivers, to be fully vaccinated.

This may impact your ability to handle cross-border freight.

In total, there are 120,000 Canadians who operate cross border and 40,000 US licensed drivers moving north-south freight.

About 70 percent of the $648 billion in trade between the two countries moves by truck.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), in a November communique, estimated that 10-20 percent of Canadian truck drivers crossing the border, and 40 percent of US truck drivers travelling into Canada would exit the Canada-US trade system should the vaccination mandate take effect in January 2022.

To prepare for these border crossing restrictions, trucking companies should consider:

1. Determine the border crossing eligibility for all drivers in relation to the Canadian and U.S. vaccination mandates.
2. Develop a vaccination policy for all employees. Trucking companies would be well advised to seek professional advice when developing this policy.
3. Determine the operational impact to their company and its ability to provide service to customers, if any.
4. Consult their insurance broker if any changes to operations or the fleet are anticipated.

For further information on the U.S. Border Crossing restrictions:
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/12/secretary-mayorkas-allow-fully-vaccinated-travelers-canada-and-mexico-enter-us-land

For further information on the Canada Border Crossing restrictions:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/11/government-of-canada-announces-adjustments-to-canadas-border-measures.html

Provided by GL Transport Consulting in collaboration with Lloyd Sadd / Navacord.

If you have questions specific to your business, or would like additional information, please reach out to your Lloyd Sadd Advisor.

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