Border brief,
Detroit–Windsor truck waits near zero on election day; Ontario diesel set to fall
Reported pre-dawn truck waits were five minutes or less at Detroit–Windsor on Nov. 3. Canada-U.S. trade talks have no public terms yet, and Windsor diesel is forecast to drop 12 cents a litre Wednesday. CBP's "Flying Trucks" cutoff is Nov. 24.
At the border
Our live feed was unreachable, so these readings come straight from CBP and CBSA, early Tuesday, Nov. 3, Eastern time.
- Ambassador, U.S.-bound (5:00 a.m.): 5 minutes in general lanes, with 2 of 13 lanes open; FAST 0 minutes, 1 lane.
- Ambassador and Gordie Howe, Canada-bound (3:15 a.m.): no delay.
- Blue Water, Canada-bound (4:15 a.m.): no delay.
We could not retrieve U.S.-bound readings for Gordie Howe or Blue Water.
Elsewhere, Peace Bridge was 4 minutes U.S.-bound (5:07 a.m., 4 of 8 lanes) and 7 minutes Canada-bound (5:00 a.m.). Lewiston–Queenston showed 2 minutes Canada-bound at 5:00 a.m. and no truck delay either way at 5:20 a.m., per the bridge commission. The Soo had no Canada-bound delay at 4:15 a.m.
Analysis: these are overnight numbers with few lanes staffed, so they say little about mid-morning. Check live wait times before dispatching.
On trade, nothing we found changes today's paperwork. Transport Topics reported Nov. 2 that Trump called the two countries "very close to having a deal," while Carney said teams will work on it in the coming weeks. Relief on steel and autos is under discussion, but no details are public. The 50% U.S. tariffs imposed after August's breakdown, on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods, are the backdrop. Analysis: keep pricing loads on duties now in force.
Diesel
EIA's latest published survey remains the week of Oct. 26: Midwest $6.480 a gallon, U.S. $6.352. EIA lists Nov. 3 as its next release, so new numbers were not yet out.
We could not load Ontario's official weekly survey. Canadians for Affordable Energy forecasts Windsor diesel at 247.9¢ a litre today and 235.9¢ Wednesday. CP24 reported the same 235.9¢ level for the Toronto area.
Analysis, rough math only: at USD/CAD 1.4002, the Oct. 26 market close and the latest we could confirm, that is about US$6.70 a gallon today and US$6.38 Wednesday. Against the week-old Midwest figure, Michigan looks about 22 cents cheaper today, and Windsor about 10 cents cheaper Wednesday. Dates differ and Windsor is a forecast: direction only. See the diesel page.
What we're watching
- Flying Trucks. CBP's process that let some express carriers file air manifests for truck-borne cargo fully ends Nov. 24. Analysis: shippers using express carriers should confirm truck manifest filing now.
- Windsor Assembly. Production stays idled through the week of Nov. 9, with no return date reported as of Oct. 29. Analysis: expect light inbound parts volume.
- Unifor and Stellantis. As of Oct. 27, bargaining had not resumed and the union was not in a legal strike position. We found nothing newer.
- Rail crew data. CBP's proposed advance-reporting rule would appear to cover freight crews. Comments close Dec. 14.
Sources
Waits: CBP Detroit; CBP Buffalo; CBSA; Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. Trade: Transport Topics; CBT News. Diesel: EIA; Canadians for Affordable Energy; CP24; Pound Sterling Live. Other: Allied CHB; Windsor News Today; CP24; Forwarder News.