Freight operators who learned the border the hard way.
Makutuu started in 2009 as a single-lane trucking operation between Ontario and Michigan. Today we cover every major Canada–US crossing and international forwarding through all three Canadian cargo gateways. What has not changed is how we operate: one team, one point of contact, no handoffs to third-party brokers.
Built on one lane, expanded through competence.
Makutuu Freight Inc. was incorporated in British Columbia in 2009. The founding team came from carrier operations, not brokerage — which shaped how the company grew. Rather than expanding by adding broker relationships and markup layers, we added in-house capabilities: customs brokerage licensing, dangerous goods certification, cold chain operations, and oversized permit expertise.
By 2014 we had licensed customs brokers on staff and were filing our own CBSA declarations rather than outsourcing to third parties. By 2017 we had established cross-dock facilities near both Windsor-Essex and the Greater Vancouver border crossing cluster, giving us physical presence on Canada's two busiest freight corridors.
The company does not operate a brokerage marketplace and does not list shipments for carrier bidding. We work with a fixed network of carriers whose equipment, insurance, and safety ratings we have verified and continue to monitor. That approach keeps our client base smaller than some brokerages, but it means the carrier that picks up your freight is one we know by name.
We serve manufacturers, distributors, food producers, pharmaceutical companies, construction and energy sector clients, and importers bringing goods into Canada from international origins. Our longest-standing client relationship goes back to 2011 — an Ontario automotive parts manufacturer for whom we now handle over 200 cross-border moves per year.
CBSA Licensed Customs Broker — Licence No. CB-4471. Transport Canada TDG Certified. CFIA-registered agent for food export certification. C-TPAT Partner (via US-side carriers). Members: Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA observer).
Cross-dock facilities near Windsor, ON and Surrey, BC. Operations team available Monday–Friday 07:00–19:00 PT. Urgent freight line staffed 24 hours. Head office in British Columbia.
Three things that define how we operate
We prepare and file all customs documentation before cargo moves, not while it is at the border. Most delays at Canada–US crossings are caused by documentation that arrives at the same time as the truck. Pre-filing eliminates the most common cause of border holds for our clients.
We do not post loads to load boards or use spot-market carriers for standard moves. Every carrier in our network has been vetted for CVSA safety rating, insurance coverage, and operational standards. This costs more than the spot market and keeps our prices competitive rather than cheapest — which is the right tradeoff for cross-border freight.
Every client has one assigned account contact who handles their bookings, documentation, and any issues that arise. You are not re-routed to a call centre when something goes wrong. Your contact knows your account, your recurring cargo types, and your operational requirements.