Upgraded security at US border crossing points is leading to delays and extra costs for transporting timber, says industry newsletter Random Lengths.
The measures, designed to guard against terrorist threats, have meant average queues of a mile for Canadian truckers seeking to deliver products to the US. Some tailbacks have reportedly been up to six miles.
Several truckers are leaving the transport business as a result, while others are picking their routes more carefully. The West Coast I-5 corridor is no longer being used by some companies, while others are charging more to make up for the delays.
One Canadian timber company’s Seattle truck haul has doubled in cost to C$800 from three years ago.
The US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has designed a programme to speed up crossings for low-risk carriers. From Novemer 15, bureau agents will require electronic cargo information at least 30 minutes before trucks arrive at crossing points.
