The two routes, side by side
Every machine that crosses the border has an importer of record — the importer listed when the goods are accounted for, which the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) holds responsible for the duties and taxes owed. The practical question for a dealer is whether that is you or someone upstream of you.
| Step | What it involves | Importing directly | Ordering through a Canadian distributor — what to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registering to import | A CARM Client Portal account, a 9-digit business number (BN9) and an import program (RM) account | You register, or delegate authority to a licensed customs broker | Who the importer of record is for your order |
| Classifying the goods | Tariff classification (HS code) and country of origin, which together set the duty rate | You, your broker, or a CBSA advance ruling | Whether duties and taxes are included in what you are invoiced |
| Duties and taxes | Customs duty under the applicable tariff treatment, GST, and any special import measures or surtax in force | You pay, as importer of record | The same — get it in writing before you order |
| Reporting and release | The carrier reports the goods; release and accounting go through CARM | You or your broker; release before payment requires financial security | Where stock is held and the typical lead time to your province |
| Engine emissions | Off-road diesel engines fall under federal emission regulations | Declarations fall on the company importing the engine — confirm compliance with the manufacturer before it ships | That the model is supplied for sale in Canada |
| After the sale | Parts, service and warranty administration are not customs steps, but they are what your customers will call you about | You source them yourself | Parts stocking, technical support and warranty administration |
Neither route is wrong. Direct import suits a dealer that already runs an import operation or wants a model no Canadian distributor carries. A distributor suits a dealer that would rather hold customer relationships than a customs account.
What importing directly involves
The CBSA publishes a step-by-step guide to importing commercial goods. For a construction machine, the steps come out like this:
- Gather information about the goods. Confirm the country of origin — where the machine was manufactured, which may not be where it ships from — and check whether it needs a permit, certificate or inspection from another government department before it can be released. You must be able to prove origin, and a free trade agreement with that country can lower the duty.
- Classify the goods and work out duties and taxes. Find the tariff classification number: the first six digits are the international Harmonized System code, the next four are Canada's own tariff item and statistical suffix. With the country of origin, it sets the tariff treatment and the duty rate. GST is calculated on the value of the goods plus duties. Check whether the goods are subject to anti-dumping or countervailing duties under the Special Import Measures Act, or to a surtax.
- Set up your business to import. Every importer needs a CARM Client Portal account, a 9-digit business number (BN9) and a 6-character import program (RM) account, which combine into a 15-character business number account identifier (BN15). Non-resident importers get their business number from the Canada Revenue Agency first.
- Decide whether to hire a customs broker. You can submit your own release and accounting documents, or a licensed customs broker can act for you. Brokers are licensed by the CBSA but do not work for the federal government, and their fees are not regulated by the CBSA.
- Ship and report the goods. Place the order with the vendor, choose a mode of shipping, and identify the CBSA office where the goods will be released. If a carrier moves the shipment, the carrier reports it electronically before arrival; you give the carrier the detailed cargo information it needs.
- Get the goods released and account for them. Most commercial importers use Release Prior to Payment, which requires enrolment in CARM and financial security, and then account and pay by the due date. Without it, you account for the goods and pay the duties and taxes before release.
The CBSA's guide to importing commercial goods into Canada is the source for each of these steps and the place to check them before you order — tariff rates and surtaxes change, and this page does not track them.
Engine emissions are a separate federal rule
Customs clearance is one requirement; engine emissions are another. Compression-ignition (diesel) engines designed for mobile machines are regulated by Environment and Climate Change Canada under the Off-road Compression-Ignition (Mobile and Stationary) and Large Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations (SOR/2020-258). They set emission standards and labelling requirements, and include declaration requirements for companies that import engines. If you import a machine yourself, confirm with the manufacturer how its engine meets these rules before it ships, not after it reaches the border.
Ordering through TorqueMax
TorqueMax is the Canadian distributor behind SDLG, ArcPath and ArcTrek, and it supplies dealers rather than end buyers. This is what the route looks like from the dealer's side, as far as TorqueMax publishes it today:
- Apply first. Ordering starts with the dealer application. TorqueMax reviews it and responds within two to three business days; the steps and the questions to settle before signing are in how to become an equipment dealer in Canada.
- Order through the dealer portal. Existing dealers sign in to the secure dealer portal to check inventory levels, place orders, track shipments and manage their account.
- Canadian inventory and logistics. TorqueMax handles Canadian inventory management, order fulfillment and coast-to-coast logistics coordination.
- After the sale. Parts stocking, warranty administration, technical support and after-sales coordination sit with TorqueMax, and service manuals and warranty claim procedures are provided through the dealer resources.
- A direct contact. Dealers reach the right person for sales, after-sales and operations directly.
What this page does not publish: order minimums, payment terms, lead times or dealer pricing. Those are exactly the items to ask for in writing during the application review — the same way you would with any distributor. For what the SDLG line covers, see SDLG in Canada; for how parts and service support shows up in total cost of ownership, see the equipment warranty and service guide.
When this route is not the right one
- You are buying one machine for your own business. Buyers do not purchase from TorqueMax directly. Buy from the authorized dealer that serves your area — in Ontario that is TerraX Equipment in Toronto — or contact TorqueMax to be connected with one.
- You need a brand TorqueMax does not carry. The portfolio is SDLG, ArcPath and ArcTrek. For anything else, you are either ordering from that brand's own Canadian distributor or importing it yourself, and the CBSA steps above apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can a dealer import construction equipment into Canada directly? Yes. A business can import commercial goods once it is registered in the CBSA's CARM Client Portal with a business number and an import program account. The importer of record is then responsible for classifying the goods, paying duties and taxes, and meeting other federal requirements such as engine emission rules.
Who pays duties and taxes on imported equipment? The importer of record — the importer listed when the goods are accounted for. If a customs broker is named as the importer, the broker is jointly responsible with you for the duties and taxes owing.
Do I need a customs broker to import equipment? No. You can prepare and submit your own release and accounting documents to the CBSA. A licensed customs broker can do it for you for a fee, which the CBSA does not regulate.
How do TorqueMax dealers place orders? Through the secure dealer portal, where existing dealers check inventory levels, place orders, track shipments and manage their account. Access follows an approved dealer application.
Can I buy an SDLG machine wholesale from TorqueMax for my own use? No. TorqueMax supplies dealers; end buyers purchase from the authorized dealer that serves their area. In Ontario that is TerraX Equipment in Toronto.