If you've never used a trucking service to send something from the United States to Canada before, then you might now know everything that you need to when it comes to getting the paperwork ready. Many people overlook the importance of preparing the paperwork for shipping internationally, but realize right now that this could be the most important part of your shipment. If the paperwork is out of order or if anything is missing, it is entirely possible that your delivery will be stopped at the border and not be allowed to proceed; a delay that no one wants when shipping.

One of the best ways to avoid this type of problem is to make sure that you're doing business with a courier company that has a lot of experience when it comes to shipping across international borders. Companies that specialize in that type of shipping will have the resources that you need in order to make sure that your paperwork is all in order.

The first thing that you're going to need to make sure accompanies every one of your shipments is something called a BOL. This is a Bill of Lading and is the shipping document prepared by your courier which should include all of the important information about their shipment. As long as they include the BOL and you include a commercial invoice with the shipment, you're off to a good start.

You may need extra paperwork though, and that is where consulting an expert can be very useful. Two things may dictate any extra paperwork which you may require. Those are the nature of the goods that you're shipping, and their value.

Some goods may fall under the jurisdiction of certain types of international law. For instance, you may need to obtain a NAFTA certificate in order to be able to ship certain types of goods. On the other hand, once you're shipping above certain values, you might have to get licenses for importing or exporting. A shipping consultant that you can describe your shipment to in detail will be able to tell exactly what you require based on your shipments specifics.

Be sure to pay attention to detail when completing any forms for shipping. Customs agents have been known to hold packages based on tiny errors that many other people wouldn't even notice. The delay at customs would be far greater than taking a few extra minutes to make sure all forms are filled out correctly.

Paul McDuffy is a consultant for trucking service and Sioux Falls Courier service companies. Distributed by Content Crooner.