ACE truck process now operating along most Canada-US land ports

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs’ has completed installation of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) truck processing system at all land border ports between New York State and Canada.

ACE — a commercial trade-processing system developed by CBP to enhance border security and expedite legitimate trade — is now operating at all southern land border ports and along most of the northern border with Canada.

The system provides CBP with the ability to collect electronic manifests for trucks and for carriers and shippers to electronic transmit advance manifest information to CBP.

ACE is available in the New York ports of Champlain, Cannon Corners, Mooers, Overton Corners, Rouses Point, Trout River, Chateaugay, Fort Covington, Churubusco, Jamieson Line, Massena, Ogdensburg, Alexandria Bay, and Buffalo which includes the Peace Bridge and the Lewiston Bridge.

CBP will begin implementation of a mandatory e-manifest policy on a port-by-port basis beginning in 2007. Notices announcing mandatory e-manifest dates for each port will be published in the Federal Register at least 90 days in advance of implementation.

Truck carriers are encouraged by CBP to establish ACE truck carrier accounts now and begin to file electronically before e-manifests becomes mandatory.

Carriers may file their own e-manifests or hire a broker to file for them. Filers can transmit an e-manifest online using the ACE Secure Data Portal at no charge. An electronic data interchange or EDI, a common e-commerce tool, may also be used.

If using EDI, companies may opt to build their own EDI software, which must be tested for CBP system compatibility, or may purchase or lease software from EDI software vendors.

Carriers, importers and brokers interested in using the ACE Secure Data Portal must establish an ACE account and have access to the Internet. For information on how to establish an ACE account, e-mail CBP at acenow@dhs.gov.