Canadian companies facing long waits at Detroit border

DETROIT (Sept. 13)—Trucks loaded with American Biltrite Canada Ltd.'s commercial and industrial rubber flooring are reporting back to the company's Sherbrook, Quebec, plant that traffic trying to gain entry into the U.S. was backed up 27 miles at the Detroit border, said Mireille Lecleree, customers and traffic clerk for American Biltrite. The company also ships its products into the U.S. at customs points in Port Huron, Mich.; Lake Champlain, N.Y.; Wellesley Island, N.Y.; and Derby Line, Vt., she said, but Detroit so far poses the longest waits as customs officials step up search procedures in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.