A & A Customs Brokers
A & A Customs Brokers, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, is a licensed Canadian-US customs brokerage serving importers and exporters across both countries with customs clearance, trade consulting, international logistics, warehousing, and Zipments-powered digital self-service tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersSurrey, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What A & A Customs Brokers does
A & A Customs Brokers is a licensed Canada-US cross-border trade services firm founded in 1979 and headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia. The company operates through two principal entities — A & A Customs Brokers Ltd. (British Columbia) and A & A Customs Brokers USA, Inc. (Washington State) — and runs four wholly-owned subsidiaries under the A & A Group of Companies: the Canadian and US brokerage entities, A & A International Freight Forwarding, and A & A Warehousing. Service coverage spans 14 Canadian cities and 40 US cities, with documented presence at major border crossings including Laredo, El Paso, and Detroit-Windsor. The firm holds CBSA, CBP, and DFAIT licenses and is a CIFFA Standard Trading Conditions member, positioning it as a regulated, bilateral trade-services intermediary rather than a digital-first logistics startup.
The product portfolio centers on Canadian and US customs brokerage (entry filing, duty payment, customs bond services) and extends into trade consulting (CARM management, duty drawback, free trade agreement optimization, valuation, audits and appeals, advanced rulings, duty deferral programs, HS tariff management, SIMA work), international logistics coordination, and warehousing with a $450 monthly invoice minimum. Customer segments span food and beverage, lumber and wood products, machinery and heavy equipment, automotive and parts, pharmaceuticals, retail and e-commerce, and pipeline participants in Canada-US cross-border trade, with named enterprise customers such as Discovery Toys, The Paradies Shops, and Schwan's Shared Services.
Digitally, A & A operates a self-service portal with PARS/PAPS tracking, commercial invoice creation for Canada and US, a duty and tax calculator, HS/HTS tariff classification, and CUSMA/USMCA certification, the majority of which are delivered through a technology partnership with Zipments. The pricing model is quote-based, with brokerage rates tied to disclosed customer volumes and reviewed every six months; ancillary fees apply for consulting, freight, disbursements, and administrative services. Distribution combines enterprise field sales with a dedicated account-representative model, inside-sales via online "Request a Quote," and 24/7 self-service digital tools, supported by content marketing, active social channels, and the Graham Robins Podcast.
A & A Customs Brokers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A & A Customs Brokers
- Legal name
- A & A Customs Brokers Ltd.
- Website
- https://aacb.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- A & A Customs Brokers, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, is a licensed Canadian-US customs brokerage serving importers and exporters across both countries with customs clearance, trade consulting, international logistics, warehousing, and Zipments-powered digital self-service tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A & A Customs Brokers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Customs Brokerage Services
- NAICS
- Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customs Consulting & Brokerage Outsourcing (Managed Brokerage, Brokerage Operations) (TLACAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Customs Brokerage Workflow & Case Management Software (TLAEAOAH), Customs Valuation & Transfer Pricing (Customs) Advisory (TLACAGAD)
Keywords
Where A & A Customs Brokers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Surrey
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
A & A Customs Brokers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Customs Brokerage Fees: Core customs brokerage services for clearing goods through Canadian and US customs, including entry preparation, document filing, and duty payment on behalf of clients. Fees based on expected volumes disclosed by customers, reviewed every six months.
- Trade Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including CARM management, duty drawback recovery, free trade agreement optimization, tariff classification, valuation assistance, and compliance audits.
- International Logistics: Freight forwarding and logistics coordination services for shipments crossing Canada-US borders, including transportation, warehousing, and inventory management.
- Warehousing Services: Storage and fulfillment services with WMS access, EDI capabilities, receiving/shipping, order processing, and related handling services. Monthly minimum invoice of $450.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Custom Volume-Based Brokerage |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Warehousing Services |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Consulting and Specialized Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
A & A Customs Brokers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A & A Customs Brokers is a licensed customs brokerage firm that clears goods across the Canada-US border on behalf of importers and exporters, handling entry preparation, document filing, duty payment, and regulatory compliance with CBSA and CBP. Beyond core brokerage, it provides trade consulting (duty drawback recovery, free trade agreement optimization, tariff classification, CARM management, valuation, audits and appeals) and international logistics and warehousing services. Customers access both dedicated account representatives and self-service digital tools for PARS/PAPS tracking, commercial invoice creation, duty calculation, and USMCA/CUSMA certification.
Product overview
A & A Customs Brokers operates as a comprehensive customs brokerage and trade compliance platform serving businesses shipping between Canada and the United States. The core offering comprises Canadian and US Customs Brokerage services, supplemented by specialized Trade Consulting that includes CARM Management, duty drawback, free trade agreements, and HS tariff classification. The company provides industry-specific solutions across Food & Beverage, Automotive, Electronics, Agriculture, Lumber, Retail, Textile, Medical Supplies, and Oil & Gas sectors. A suite of self-service digital tools (Duty & Tax Calculator, HS/HTS Classification, CUSMA/USMCA Certification, Commercial Invoice Creation for Canada and USA, and PARS/PAPS label ordering) is accessible through their web platform, with certain tools powered by technology partner Zipments. The portfolio is rounded out by International Logistics coordination and The Graham Robins Podcast as an educational resource.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Canadian Customs Brokerage Licensed customs clearance and brokerage services for imports into Canada, covering documentation handling, duty payment, and ongoing CBSA compliance for importers.
- US Customs Brokerage Licensed customs clearance and brokerage services for imports into the United States, including documentation handling, CBP compliance, and customs bond services for US importers.
- CARM Management Compliance and management services for the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system, including importer registration, bond assistance, financial security setup, and ongoing CARM account optimization.
- Trade Consulting Advisory services spanning duty drawback recovery, free trade agreement optimization, tax consulting, advanced rulings, duty deferral programs, valuation, voluntary disclosures, audits and appeals, and trade compliance manual creation.
- Government Contracting Services Specialized customs support for businesses fulfilling government contracts and procurement programs with cross-border trade components.
- International Logistics End-to-end international shipping coordination for cross-border Canada-US movements, including transportation management, warehousing, and inventory management.
- Duty Drawback Consulting Consulting service for recovering duties paid on imported goods that are subsequently exported, helping importers identify and claim eligible drawback refunds.
- Warehousing Services Managed storage and fulfillment services with WMS access, EDI capabilities, receiving/shipping, order processing, ASN admin, BoL printing, picking, labeling, stretch-wrap, and pallet storage, subject to a $450 monthly invoice minimum.
Quantifiable outcome
- Most shipments cleared within 2 hours at San Antonio
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use A & A Customs Brokers
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
A & A Customs Brokers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
A & A Customs Brokers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ZipmentscoreTechnology partnership for digital customs tools including commercial invoice creation for Canada and US, duty and tax calculator, PARS and PAPS label ordering. Zipments provides the underlying technology platform for these self-service tools integrated into A & A's website.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A & A Customs Brokers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Flexport: Digital freight forwarder with customs brokerage capabilities and proprietary technology platform, representing the technology-forward competitive threat to traditional brokers.
Direct peers
- GH Customs Brokers: Mid-sized Canadian customs broker with a focus on US-Canada trade flows, providing comparable brokerage and digital self-service tools for importers.
- Cole International: Established Canadian customs broker and trade services firm with comparable cross-border expertise between Canada and the US, serving multiple industry verticals.
- Livingston International: Largest Canadian-owned customs broker with comprehensive North American trade compliance and brokerage services. Most direct peer given overlapping focus on Canada-US cross-border clearance.
- Farrow: Customs brokerage and trade services provider in Canada, offering customs clearance, consulting, and logistics coordination comparable to A & A's core services.
- Pacific Customs Brokers: Canadian customs broker specializing in cross-border trade with the United States, offering similar brokerage, consulting, and trade compliance services to importers and exporters.
Broad incumbents
- Expeditors International: Global logistics company offering customs brokerage and trade compliance services as part of integrated international supply chain solutions.
- Kuehne+Nagel: Global logistics leader with extensive customs brokerage and trade compliance services across North America and worldwide, including cross-border capabilities.
- C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Global logistics giant with significant North American customs brokerage and trade compliance capabilities serving enterprise cross-border shippers.
- DHL Global Forwarding: Global freight forwarder offering customs brokerage services and integrated supply chain solutions that overlap with A & A's cross-border trade business.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
A & A Customs Brokers social profiles
Digital presenceA & A Customs Brokers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
A & A Customs Brokers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A & A Customs Brokers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
A & A Customs Brokers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
A & A Customs Brokers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A & A Customs Brokers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A & A Customs Brokers
What does A & A Customs Brokers do?
A & A Customs Brokers is a licensed customs brokerage firm that clears goods across the Canada-US border on behalf of importers and exporters, handling entry preparation, document filing, duty payment, and regulatory compliance with CBSA and CBP. Beyond core brokerage, it provides trade consulting (duty drawback recovery, free trade agreement optimization, tariff classification, CARM management, valuation, audits and appeals) and international logistics and warehousing services. Customers access both dedicated account representatives and self-service digital tools for PARS/PAPS tracking, commercial invoice creation, duty calculation, and USMCA/CUSMA certification.
Is A & A Customs Brokers a public or private company?
A & A Customs Brokers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was A & A Customs Brokers founded?
A & A Customs Brokers was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is A & A Customs Brokers based?
A & A Customs Brokers is headquartered in Surrey, Canada, in the North America region.
How does A & A Customs Brokers make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Customs Brokerage Fees are the primary driver. The others are trade Consulting Services, international Logistics and warehousing Services.
Who are A & A Customs Brokers's main competitors?
Flexport is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are GH Customs Brokers, Cole International, Livingston International, Farrow and Pacific Customs Brokers. Broad incumbents are Expeditors International, Kuehne+Nagel, C.H. Robinson Worldwide and DHL Global Forwarding.
Does A & A Customs Brokers have an API?
No public API is recorded for A & A Customs Brokers.
What industry is A & A Customs Brokers in?
A & A Customs Brokers's product category is Customs Brokerage Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACAFAI, Customs Consulting & Brokerage Outsourcing (Managed Brokerage, Brokerage Operations), with a secondary code of TLAEAOAH, Customs Brokerage Workflow & Case Management Software. Its NAICS code is 425.