New pre-note proposal published; truck system won’t be available until ’04

WASHINGTON, (July 24, 2003) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has officially published its new proposal for regulations requiring advance electronic information for cargo being transported by truck, rail, air, and vessel.

The proposal published yesterday in the Federal Register, states electronic information must be transmitted to CBP in advance of the cargo departing or entering the U.S. The information, which must be in an acceptable format as defined by Customs, will be used to identify high-risk shipments in order to ensure cargo security.

CBP has indicated that the proposed transition period to comply with these new rules will be 90 days, informing rail and marine carriers that the Automated Manifest System (AMS) is in place and operational at border points where shipments would initially arrive in the U.S. The exception to this transition period is for truck shipments, for which there is currently no electronic advance manifest system available. CBP is advising the rules for truck shipments will be effective with the development of a system in the Automated Commercial Environment (Customs’ new automation system), which is expected for completion in the spring of 2004.

As reported in Today’s Trucking earlier this week, the new proposal relating to truck carriers would require that fleets hauling Free and Secure Trade (FAST)-approved shipments pre-notify CPB of the load 30 minutes before reaching the border. That timeframe has been dramatically reduced from a four-hour export/24-hour import proposal CBP floated earlier this year. The plan was scrapped when large just-in-time trucking interests complained.

U.S.-bound timeframes for other systems include: One hour prior to arrival for Pre Arrival Processing System (PAPS); Customs Automated Forms Entry System (CAFES) and Border Release Advance Screening (BRASS) require notification upon arrival.

Data for U.S. outbound cargo on trucks destined for Canada must be submitted one hour before scheduled border arrival. However, the Canadian Trucking Alliance says it has been notified by CBP that FAST-approved shipments will be exempt from the advance notification requirement.

To read the complete report in the Federal Register, which includes timeframes for all modes of transportation, go the following URL: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-18558.htm

— with files from Livingston International