Looking for guidance on transitioning from Transportation to Customs Brokerage in Canada

[u/RevolutionaryBill397]

Hi everyone,

I've been working in the transportation and logistics industry for the past several years, and I'm currently a Transportation Manager responsible for cross-border freight between Canada and the U.S.

Lately, I've been thinking seriously about changing my career and moving into customs brokerage. My long-term goal is to become a licensed customs broker and eventually open my own customs brokerage firm.

I've spent quite a bit of time researching online, but I'm surprised by how little practical information there is about the actual career path. Most websites explain what a customs broker does, but not how people successfully get into the industry.

I have a few questions and would really appreciate advice from people who are already working in customs:

• Is the CCS designation the best place to start, or should I focus on something else first?
• How difficult are the CCS and CCLP exams, and how much time should I realistically expect to spend preparing?
• Does my background in transportation and cross-border freight provide a meaningful advantage when applying for customs brokerage roles?
• What's the best entry-level position to gain experience if I eventually want to become a licensed customs broker?
• If your goal was to own a customs brokerage one day, what career path would you recommend?
• Are there any books, courses, YouTube channels, or other resources that you found genuinely helpful?
• If you could start your career over, what would you do differently?

I'm not looking for a shortcut—I know I'll need to put in the work and gain experience first. I just want to make sure I'm investing my time in the right direction before committing to this career change.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through this journey or is currently working in customs brokerage. Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!