Live commercial truck delays at Emerson-Pembina (Manitoba ↔ North Dakota) · updated every 15 minutes from CBP and CBSA · FAST lane available
Current wait: 0 min US-bound · 0 min CA-bound. Data from official CBP (US-bound) and CBSA (CA-bound) feeds, polled about every 15 minutes.
Emerson, Manitoba to Pembina, North Dakota is Manitoba's main commercial crossing and one of the busiest on the prairies, connecting Highway 75 to I-29. It is the key gateway for freight moving between Winnipeg and the US Midwest — Fargo, Minneapolis, and beyond. The crossing runs 24/7 and volume is steadier than at the smaller western ports, but like Coutts it sits in open prairie country where blizzards and flooding on the Red River flats occasionally disrupt the Highway 75 approach.
Connecting highways: Highway 75 (Emerson, MB) ↔ I-29 (Pembina, ND)
Skip the booth-side scramble. Both CBP and CBSA require electronic advance notification at least one hour before a commercial truck reaches the border.
Most US-Canada commercial crossings follow the same broad pattern: weekdays are heavier than weekends, mid-week is heavier than Monday or Friday, and daytime hours are heavier than overnights. Specific peak windows vary by port, but the table below is a useful planning baseline. Always check the live wait times above before making routing decisions.
| Time window | Typical congestion |
|---|---|
| Mon–Fri 06:00–10:00 local | Elevated — morning dispatch wave |
| Tue–Thu 10:00–16:00 local | Peak — heaviest commercial volume |
| Fri 14:00–18:00 local | Elevated — weekend repositioning |
| Weekday 22:00–05:00 local | Light — fastest crossings |
| Weekends & statutory holidays | Light — minimal commercial queue |
If Emerson-Pembina is backed up, these crossings may be faster alternatives. Live wait times for each are updated every 15 minutes.
Highway 75 on the Emerson, Manitoba side connects to I-29 on the Pembina, North Dakota side. This is Manitoba's primary commercial crossing and the main truck route between Winnipeg and the US Midwest.
Yes, Emerson-Pembina operates around the clock, which makes overnight crossings a practical way to avoid daytime commercial volume. Always confirm current hours with CBP and CBSA, and check the live wait times, since conditions can change with weather on the exposed Highway 75 approach.
Commercial truck volumes at most US-Canada crossings peak mid-week (Tuesday through Thursday) during daytime business hours. Monday mornings and Friday afternoons also see elevated delays as carriers reposition for the workweek. Weekends and overnight hours are generally the lightest. Live wait times above reflect actual current conditions, which can deviate from these patterns during holidays, weather events, or inspection surges.
Wait times are published directly by the border agency responsible for each direction of travel: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for US-bound commercial traffic and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for Canada-bound traffic. Values represent the estimated delay between joining the back of the truck queue and reaching the primary inspection booth. BorderPro polls the official feeds every 15 minutes.
US-bound commercial trucks need an ACE eManifest submitted to CBP at least one hour before arrival. Canada-bound trucks need an ACI eManifest submitted to CBSA one hour before arrival. Drivers should also carry the appropriate PARS or PAPS lead sheet, commercial invoice, and any commodity-specific permits.
Yes. Emerson-Pembina has a dedicated FAST (Free and Secure Trade) lane for pre-approved carriers and drivers enrolled in the FAST program. FAST-approved trucks typically experience shorter wait times because their advance trade data is treated as low-risk by both CBP and CBSA. See our FAST card guide for application details.
US-bound shipments use CBP port code 3401. Canada-bound shipments use CBSA FPOA code 0504. These codes are required on eManifest filings and customs documentation — BorderPro fills them in automatically when you select Emerson-Pembina on a manifest.
Wait time data comes directly from the official border agencies and reflects measured queue conditions at the time of the most recent poll. Conditions can change quickly — a single inspection hold can add 30+ minutes within a 15-minute window. Use live wait times as a planning baseline, not a guarantee, and build in buffer for inspections, paperwork holds, and weather.
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