60
60 minutes from Quebec/NY border
Highway 15 connects Montreal directly to Champlain/Lacolle border crossing. Same-day truck dispatch to US destinations. No multi-day inland transit before clearance.
Cross-Border CA/US · Montreal, Canada
60 minutes from the US border. One prep cycle, two markets.
Cross-border fulfillment from Montreal to US markets — Amazon FBA US inbound, Walmart WFS prep, DTC parcel, B2B retail freight. Customs handled, CARM-compliant, single inventory pool serving both Canadian and US channels. Per-unit prep from $0.80 CAD + cross-border freight at carrier cost.
60 minTo QC/NY border crossing
4 workflowsFBA, WFS, DTC, B2B
CARMCanadian customs compliant
$0/moNo monthly retainer
What is cross-border fulfillment
Cross-border fulfillment, without the customs headaches.
Cross-border fulfillment is the movement of your inventory and orders between Canada and the United States, with all customs, shipping, and compliance steps handled end-to-end. For Canadian sellers, the most common workflow is receiving inventory from suppliers (often from Asia or domestic Canadian sources), holding it at a Montreal warehouse, prepping it per channel requirements, and shipping cross-border to either US Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, or directly to US customers via DTC parcel.
The structural advantage of Canada-based cross-border fulfillment over a US-based 3PL: single inventory pool. Your inventory doesn\'t need to be duplicated in two countries. From Montreal, the same inventory serves Amazon.ca, Walmart.ca, your Canadian Shopify store, and Amazon.com / Walmart.com / your US Shopify customers. One warehouse, one prep cycle, one inventory accounting, multiple cross-border channels.
The structural challenge: customs compliance. Cross-border shipments require commercial invoices, B13A export declarations, USMCA certificates of origin, and proper HTS code classification. Get any of this wrong and shipments sit at the border, costing you time and money. Bilingual customs expertise built into the operation isn\'t a nice-to-have — it\'s the difference between predictable transit times and surprise hold-ups.
Why Montreal specifically
The geographic advantage most sellers underestimate.
Montreal isn\'t just "in Canada" — it\'s in the optimal position for cross-border fulfillment to US markets. Here\'s why.
US
8 hours to NYC, NJ, Boston
Major US Amazon and Walmart fulfillment centers in NY, NJ, PA, MA are within one-day truck transit. Faster than most US-based 3PLs servicing the same FCs.
CA
Bilingual customs expertise
Bilingual team navigates Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) documentation in EN and FR. CARM-registered importer support.
FX
CAD-billed, FX hedged
You're billed in Canadian dollars regardless of where the inventory ends up. No FX exposure on fulfillment costs. Predictable monthly budgeting.
4 cross-border workflows
From Montreal to any US channel.
Four distinct cross-border workflows — pick the one that matches your channel, or combine multiple from the same inventory pool.
FBA
Amazon FBA US Inbound
Prep + cross-border ship to US Amazon fulfillment centers
You source inventory worldwide, it arrives at our Montreal warehouse. We FBA prep (UPC labels, polybagging, case packs), build inbound shipments per Amazon's routing plan, generate customs docs, and ship cross-border to assigned US FCs. Per-unit prep pricing + cross-border freight at cost.
WFS
Walmart WFS US Inbound
Prep + cross-border ship to US Walmart fulfillment centers
Same workflow as FBA but for Walmart's WFS network. Prep per WFS requirements (UPC/GTIN, case packs, palletization), inbound plan per Walmart's routing, customs documentation, cross-border carrier or LTL outbound. Single prep cycle, multi-channel inventory.
DTC
DTC to US Customers
Direct-to-consumer Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce orders shipped from Montreal to US buyers
Your Shopify store has US customers. Inventory sits at our Montreal warehouse. Orders sync via Shopify API, we pick-pack-label same-day, and ship via UPS Cross-Border or FedEx Cross-Border. 2-4 day transit to most US destinations. Customs paid by you or buyer (DDP or DDU configurable).
B2B
B2B Wholesale + Retail
LTL and FTL freight to US retail buyers, distributors, and trade show drop-shipments
You sell wholesale to US retail buyers or supply distributors. We palletize per buyer routing guide (Big-Box compliant labeling, ASN data), arrange LTL or FTL freight, generate customs documentation, and dispatch from our Montreal dock. Booking handled by our freight team or your forwarder.
Customs & duties
Customs simplified — USMCA, Section 321, HTS classification.
Most cross-border friction comes from misunderstanding the rules. Here\'s the framework that applies to 95% of Canadian sellers shipping to the US.
The basics
USMCA + Section 321 + correct HTS codes = most duties handled
Under USMCA (the modernized NAFTA), Canadian-origin and Canadian-manufactured goods often qualify for duty-free entry to the US. For DTC parcel shipments to US consumers, Section 321 of the US Tariff Act allows individual shipments valued at $800 USD or less per recipient per day to enter the US duty-free with simplified processing. Combined, these two programs cover the majority of small-to-medium Canadian seller cross-border volume.
The compliance work behind the scenes: classifying products with the correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code, declaring values accurately, preparing commercial invoices with the right detail, generating USMCA certificates of origin where applicable, and filing the right entry type (formal vs. informal, Section 321 vs. standard) per shipment. We handle all of this for active clients, with US customs broker coordination when formal entry is needed.
- USMCA certificates of origin for qualifying Canadian goods
- Section 321 entry filing for DTC parcel under $800 USD
- HTS code classification support and review
- Commercial invoices and B13A export declarations
- US customs broker coordination for formal entries
- Duty drawback referrals for re-export scenarios
From Montreal to US
The cross-border process, step by step.
Same workflow every shipment, same customs paperwork, same compliance. Predictable transit, predictable cost.
01
Inventory arrives at Montreal
Your suppliers ship to our warehouse — parcel, pallet, or container. Receive, count, and inspect within 24 hours. CARM ICR filed for imports from overseas.
02
Bin storage + channel prep
Assign bin locations and execute prep per destination channel — FBA labels, WFS case packs, DTC retail packaging, or B2B pallet labeling.
03
Shipment plan + routing
Pull inbound plans from Amazon/Walmart Seller Central. Build pallets per routing assignment. Select cross-border carrier based on weight, destination, and required transit time.
04
Customs documentation
Generate commercial invoice, B13A export declaration, USMCA certificate of origin (when applicable), and any product-specific certifications. Filed with carrier for clearance.
05
Cross-border dispatch
UPS/FedEx Cross-Border pickup for parcel, LTL booking for pallets, FTL for full truckloads. 60-minute trucking to QC/NY border. Clear customs at first crossing.
06
Tracking + delivery confirmation
Tracking pushed to your channel (Amazon Seller Central, Walmart, Shopify). Delivery confirmation logged. Customs documentation archived 6 years per CRA requirements.
Live cost projection
See your monthly cross-border total in 5 seconds.
Set your monthly units, average product value, and destination. We calculate prep + cross-border shipping + estimated duties.
Your cross-border monthly cost, calculated.
Prep + cross-border shipping + duties projection in CAD.
Monthly units cross-border
1000units / month
1001k2k3k4k5k+
Average product value (CAD)
$25per unit
$5$50$100$150$200
Destination
Premium tier prep
$2,025CAD / month
- Prep cost (1000 × $0.95)$950
- Cross-border shipping$1,100
- Estimated duties (3%)$750
- Total monthly$2,800
Directional estimate only. Final pricing depends on your actual HTS codes, USMCA qualification, Section 321 eligibility, product dimensions, and destination FC. Get an exact quote based on your shipment profile.
Get exact quote
Carrier network
Cross-border carriers covering parcel to FTL.
We rate-shop the right carrier per shipment based on weight, dimensions, destination, and required transit time.
| Carrier | Best for | Transit time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Cross-Border | Parcel < 70 lbs | 2-4 days to most US | Brokerage included |
| FedEx Cross-Border | Parcel + expedited | 1-3 days to most US | IPD or IGS |
| GLS Cross-Border | Parcel volume | 3-5 days to most US | Cost-efficient |
| LTL Carriers | Pallet shipments | 3-7 days to US destinations | Day & Ross, TForce |
| FTL Brokers | Full truckloads | 1-3 days direct | Spot or contract |
CARM compliance
CARM is mandatory. We handle it for you.
CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) became mandatory in October 2024 for all importers of record into Canada. If you receive inventory from overseas suppliers (China, EU, etc.), you must register on the CARM Client Portal, post financial security, and submit duty/tax payments electronically through the new system.
Most sellers don\'t want to navigate this alone. We handle CARM registration, RPP (Release Prior to Payment) setup, ongoing entry submissions, and financial security coordination for active import clients — included in our service. You stay focused on sales while we keep your imports compliant with the new CBSA regime.
Get CARM-compliant fulfillmentOctober 2024CARM mandatory date for all Canadian importers.
RPP supportedRelease Prior to Payment setup included.
ICR filingImporter Compliance Reports handled.
Inside the warehouse
111 Chabanel Ouest, 60 min from the US border.
Where your inventory gets prepped, palletized, and cross-border dispatched. Bilingual customs team, dedicated cross-border dock, daily carrier pickups. Full warehouse tour →
FAQ — Cross-border fulfillment CA/US
18 questions sellers ask before going cross-border.
What is cross-border fulfillment, exactly?
Cross-border fulfillment is the movement of inventory and orders between Canada and the United States with all customs, shipping, and compliance steps handled. For Canadian sellers, this usually means prepping inventory in Canada and shipping cross-border to US Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, or directly to US customers. PrepKingz handles inventory receiving, prep work, customs documentation, and cross-border carrier dispatch from our Montreal warehouse — 60 minutes from the US border.
Why ship to the US from Montreal instead of using a US-based 3PL?
Three main reasons. (1) Geography — Montreal is 60 minutes from the QC/NY border crossing, and 1 day of trucking gets you to most Northeast and mid-Atlantic Amazon and Walmart fulfillment centers. (2) Single inventory pool — you don't need duplicate inventory in two countries; Montreal serves both Canadian and US channels. (3) Bilingual customs expertise — most US-based 3PLs aren't set up for CBSA paperwork, B13A export declarations, or CARM compliance. We handle all of it in-house.
How long does it take to ship from Montreal to US Amazon FBA centers?
Transit times depend on the destination FC and carrier choice. Northeast FCs (NY, NJ, PA, MA) are 1-2 day trucking. Mid-Atlantic (VA, MD, DE) is 2-3 days. Midwest (OH, IL, IN) is 2-4 days. West Coast FCs (CA, NV, AZ) are 5-7 days. For DTC parcel shipments to US consumers, UPS and FedEx Cross-Border deliver in 2-4 days to most US destinations.
How are duties and customs charges calculated for US-bound shipments?
Duties are calculated based on the product's Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code, declared value, and country of origin. Under USMCA (formerly NAFTA), many Canadian-origin and Canadian-manufactured goods qualify for duty-free entry to the US. Goods imported into Canada from overseas (China, EU, etc.) and then re-exported to the US are typically charged US duties on the full declared value. Most product categories fall in the 0-6.5% duty range, but some (textiles, footwear) can be higher. We help you classify HTS codes correctly and identify duty-deferral opportunities.
What is the Section 321 de minimis exemption?
Section 321 of the US Tariff Act allows shipments valued at $800 USD or less per recipient per day to enter the US duty-free and with simplified customs processing. This is huge for DTC sellers shipping individual orders from Canada to US consumers — most orders under $800 USD qualify. We file Section 321 entries on your behalf when applicable. Note: Section 321 rules have been tightening; we monitor regulatory changes monthly.
What is CARM and how does it affect Canadian importers?
CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) is Canada's modernized customs platform that became mandatory in October 2024. Anyone importing goods into Canada (including Canadian sellers receiving inventory from overseas suppliers) must register on the CARM Client Portal, post financial security, and submit duty/tax payments electronically. We help our clients navigate CARM registration, RPP (Release Prior to Payment) setup, and ongoing CARM compliance — included in our service for active import clients.
Can you handle Amazon FBA inbound shipments to US fulfillment centers?
Yes — this is one of our highest-volume workflows. We FBA prep your inventory (UPC labels, polybagging, case-pack labeling, FNSKU), pull the inbound shipment plan from Seller Central, build pallets per Amazon's routing assignment, generate the commercial invoice and customs paperwork, and dispatch via UPS Cross-Border, FedEx, or LTL freight depending on shipment size. Per-unit prep pricing matches our FBA Canada service.
What documents do you handle for cross-border shipments?
Standard cross-border documents we prepare or coordinate: commercial invoice (CI), B13A export declaration (Canada), Canada Customs Invoice (CCI) when not using commercial invoice, certificate of origin (USMCA), bill of lading (BOL), CARM-related ICRs (Importer Compliance Reports), and any product-specific certifications (FDA, FCC, CPSC, etc.) when required. We also coordinate with US customs brokers when formal entry is needed (shipments above informal entry thresholds).
Do I need a US customs broker or EIN to ship to the US?
For most parcel shipments under $2,500 USD per shipment, informal entry handles it without a US customs broker. For larger shipments (formal entry threshold), you typically need a US customs broker. If you're registered as a non-resident importer (NRI) in the US, you need an EIN or IRS-issued importer number. We help clients set up NRI status and connect with US customs brokers when needed. Not legal advice — work with a customs lawyer for setup.
Can you ship DTC orders cross-border for my Shopify store?
Yes. Your US customers order through your Shopify store, the order syncs to our portal via Shopify API, we pick-pack-label same-day, and ship via UPS Cross-Border or FedEx Cross-Border with 2-4 day transit to most US destinations. Customs paid DDP (delivered duty paid — you pay, customer sees one final price) or DDU (delivered duty unpaid — customer pays at delivery) is configurable per your strategy. Most DTC brands choose DDP for better customer experience.
How does cross-border affect Amazon account health metrics?
For Amazon FBA US sellers shipping inbound from Canada, account health isn't directly affected because Amazon handles customer delivery. For Amazon FBM/SFP US sellers shipping cross-border to US customers, your On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR) depends on the cross-border carrier's transit time. We pick carriers with predictable transit (UPS Cross-Border, FedEx Cross-Border) to maintain OTDR above 97%. Border delays can happen but are rare on prepaid commercial freight.
What about reverse cross-border — US customers returning items to Canada?
We accept returns at our Montreal address. For US customer returns, we provide either (a) a US return address with a re-routing service that consolidates returns weekly back to Montreal, or (b) direct return to Montreal address with the customer paying return shipping. Option (a) is more customer-friendly for DTC brands, option (b) is more cost-efficient for high-margin items.
How much does cross-border shipping add to my per-unit cost?
Cross-border shipping costs depend on weight, dimensions, destination, and carrier. Rough averages for typical Amazon FBA inbound shipments: $0.50-$1.20 per unit for LTL freight (efficient for medium-to-large shipments), $0.85-$1.40 per unit for parcel via UPS/FedEx (faster, smaller shipments). DTC parcel to US consumers: $7-$15 per package depending on weight and zone. Our calculator gives you a directional estimate; final quotes are based on your actual HTS codes and shipment profile.
Can I use my own US customs broker?
Yes. If you already have a US customs broker (or NRI customs broker), we coordinate with them. We generate the export documents, hand them off, and your broker handles US entry. Many sellers running large volumes prefer this control. For smaller or starting sellers, we have partnered brokers we work with daily — faster onboarding, no additional broker setup needed.
What is duty drawback and can I claim it?
Duty drawback is a US program that refunds duties paid on imported goods that are subsequently re-exported. If you import goods into the US, then re-export them (back to Canada or to another country), you may qualify to claim back up to 99% of the duties originally paid. For Canadian sellers who import from overseas, hold inventory in the US, and have some inventory returned/re-exported to Canada, duty drawback can be material. We don't handle drawback filings directly but partner with specialists who do.
How does GST/HST work on cross-border shipments?
Goods exported from Canada to the US are zero-rated for GST/HST purposes — no Canadian tax charged on the export. However, you must keep proof of export (commercial invoice, BOL, carrier tracking) to support the zero-rating. Our system retains all export documentation for 6 years per CRA requirements. US sales tax on the buyer side is handled by the marketplace (Amazon, Walmart) or your sales tax platform (Avalara, TaxJar) — not by us. Not tax advice; consult your accountant.
Do you handle hazmat shipments cross-border?
Yes, with proper certifications. Lithium batteries, aerosols, flammable liquids, and other hazmat-classified products require carrier-specific lane approval (UPS Hazardous Goods, FedEx Dangerous Goods) and proper UN labeling, MSDS sheets, and shipping declarations. We handle hazmat cross-border shipments for clients with established hazmat shipping accounts and proper Amazon/Walmart hazmat product approval. Quoted per shipment due to compliance complexity.
How do I get started with cross-border fulfillment?
Three steps. (1) Request a quote — tell us your monthly cross-border volume, destination (Amazon FBA US, Walmart WFS, DTC, B2B), product category, average unit value, and current US sales channels. We reply within 4 business hours. (2) Sign the service agreement (electronic via Documenso). (3) Connect your sales channels (Amazon, Shopify, Walmart) to our portal, ship inventory to Montreal, and start cross-border fulfillment. Most clients go from first contact to first US shipment within 10 business days.
Custom quote — 60 seconds
Tell us your cross-border setup. We send real numbers.
Monthly volume, destination channels (FBA US, WFS, DTC, B2B), product category, average unit value, current US sales channels. We review and reply within 4 business hours with pricing tied to your actual workflow.
PrepKingz Quote Builder
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Answer a few quick questions and we will recommend the right logistics setup, quote structure, and onboarding path for your business.
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No monthly fees
Canada + US ready
What your quote includes
- Volume-based pricing guidance tailored to your business.
- Clear next steps for onboarding, cross-border routing, and prep flow.
- A faster path from incoming inventory to ready-to-sell units.
Reliable prep. Faster turnaround. Clear communication from day one.
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Cross-border expertise
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Ready when you are
One warehouse. Two markets.
From Amazon FBA US inbounds to DTC parcel to US consumers, we handle the prep, the customs, and the cross-border carrier from Montreal. Customs-compliant, CARM-registered, bilingual.
Warehouse
111 Chabanel West, Suite 629
Montreal, QC H2N 1C9
Montreal, QC H2N 1C9
PrepKingz Warehouse Inc.
Montreal · QC · Canada