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Readiness Tool

Shipping Readiness
Score

Grade your shipment before dispatch. Check every item and get a score out of 100 — with a clear list of what's still missing.

Quick Presets— pre-fill all fields instantly

What type of shipment is this? (select all that apply)

Always Required

0/8

LTL Requirements

0/2

Readiness Score

—/100

Check items on the left to see your score update live.

Why Shipment Readiness Matters

Delayed pickups

Missing BOL details, unstaged freight, or unavailable dock are among the top causes of carrier-reported pickup failures. Each delay risks your driver detention charges.

Border holds

Incomplete commercial invoices, missing PARS barcodes, or absent HS codes are the most common causes of Canada–US border holds — adding 12–72 hours to transit.

Cargo claims

Improperly wrapped pallets, missing temperature instructions, or unlabelled hazmat items are the leading causes of cargo damage and rejected TDG shipments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Shipping Readiness Score measure?
The Shipping Readiness Score is a 0-100 composite score that assesses how prepared a shipper is to book a commercial freight shipment. It evaluates completeness and quality across five dimensions: freight details (weight, dimensions, commodity), origin and destination information (addresses, contact, dock availability), timing readiness (lead time and pickup window), documentation (BOL, packing list, commercial invoice for cross-border), and handling requirements (special equipment, temperature, hazmat). A score above 80 indicates the shipper is ready to receive carrier quotes immediately.
Why does lead time affect the shipping readiness score?
Carrier capacity is booked 1-5 business days in advance for most lanes. A same-day request drastically limits carrier selection, raises spot rates by 20-50%, and increases the risk of no coverage -- especially in peak periods or tight-capacity lanes. The readiness score penalises very short lead times to flag this risk. Shippers with 3+ business days of lead time consistently see more carrier options and lower rates.
What documents do I need ready before booking a cross-border Canada-US shipment?
For a standard Canada-to-US commercial shipment you need: a Bill of Lading (BOL) from the carrier; a commercial invoice listing buyer, seller, description of goods, declared value, and HS tariff codes; a packing list; a CUSMA Certificate of Origin if claiming preferential tariff treatment; and the carrier's ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) filing for US Customs. For US-to-Canada shipments, equivalent CBSA documentation is required. Controlled, food, pharmaceutical, or agricultural goods have additional permit and inspection requirements.
How can I improve my Shipping Readiness Score quickly?
The highest-impact improvements are: confirm exact origin and destination addresses with postal codes; weigh and measure your freight before contacting carriers; identify your commodity and look up its HS code and freight class; prepare the commercial invoice in advance for cross-border shipments; and plan your pickup at least 2-3 business days ahead. Most shippers can move from a low score to 80+ in under an hour once all stakeholders provide the required information.
About this tool

What it calculates

Grades your shipment out of 100 across eight readiness categories: BOL accuracy, freight class, pallet labels, customs documents, TDG requirements, temperature instructions, high-value cargo, and special handling.

Who it's for

Shippers who want to verify their shipment is ready before dispatch, reducing the risk of carrier rejection, customs holds, or claims.

What you'll need

Answers to condition questions in each readiness category, based on your actual shipment documents and preparation status.

How to use the result

Use the score to identify gaps before handing over to the carrier. Address all red-flagged items before the pickup window.

Key assumptions

The score reflects common causes of freight rejection and delay. It does not replace carrier-specific BOL requirements or regulatory checklists for controlled or regulated goods.

When to confirm with a specialist

For cannabis, pharmaceutical, high-value, or cross-border shipments, supplement this score with OTR Logistics Solutions' pre-departure review for your first shipment on each lane.

Need help with this shipment?

OTR Logistics Solutions specialists available 24/7 — no account required.

1-855-247-OTR0

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