NBCBA Logo

 

History and Membership

 

The Northern Border Customs Brokers Association had one of its’ first meetings in June 1959 at the Georgia Hotel in Vancouver , BC , Canada .  In attendance were the following individuals and the firms they represented:

 

A.N. Deringer Inc. – Jack Hurley

A.J. Humphreys Inc. – Art Humphreys

Border Brokerage Co. Inc. – Al Grasher and Dick Vander Yacht

C.F. Liebert, Inc. – Carl Liebert

C.J. Tower & Sons – Peter Tower

F.E. MacCartney, Inc. – George McIntyre

H.E. Ladwig – Hal Ladwig

John V. Carr & Son, Inc. – Bob Marr

Norman G. Jensen, Inc. – Norman Jensen

Union Brokerage – John Kramer

W.Y. Moberly, Inc. – Waldo Moberly

 

The eleven firms represented all of the major northern border ports of entry: Blaine & Sumas, WA; Eastport, ID; Sweet Grass, MT; Portal and Pembina, ND; Detroit, MI, Champlain and Buffalo, NY.  For many years these same member firms made up the body of the association.  Association Presidents and Secretaries have come from numerous firms over the years, including the following firms not mentioned above:  F.W. Myers, Inc., H.A. & J.L. Wood, Inc., W.R. Filbin, Inc., Trans-Border Customs Services, Inc., PBB USA Inc., McClary Swift & Co., W. F. Whelan, Inc. and Livingston International, Inc. 

 

Through acquisition and expansion, our membership has evolved.  We now have twenty eight member firms along the U.S. northern border.  Of the original member firms, only two firms still bear same name as they did in 1959.  Other member firms were acquired by new entrants into the mainstream Customs brokerage market:  DHL, Fedex Trade Networks and UPS.  Canadian Customs brokerage firms also entered the US brokerage market to better serve their clients.  At least 10 member firms have their roots in the Canadian brokerage industry.

 

Main Activities

 

The Association holds three meetings every year.  The Annual Meeting is usually scheduled in February, preferably in a warm location to provide a brief respite to the northern border winters.  The May meeting is scheduled in Washington , DC as a follow up to the Annual Meeting of the Association.  The three day Fall Meeting is also held in Washington , DC and traditionally starts on Columbus Day.  U.S. Customs & Border Protection is invited to attend the Association meetings on designated “Customs Day.” 

 

The Association has always been a powerful voice for U.S. northern border brokerage issues and concerns.