CBP Issues General Notice Allowing Truck Carriers Without ACE Accounts to Use Third Parties to Submit Manifest Information
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice announcing that truck carriers who are not Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Truck Carrier Accounts can now use third parties to transmit truck manifest information, including advance cargo information, electronically in the ACE Truck Manifest system, via electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging.
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CBP states that this change, which is effective March 29, 2006, opens the ACE Truck Manifest Test to parties previously ineligible to participate.
Truck Carrier Electing to Use Third Party Transmitter Must Have SCAC
According to CBP, truck carriers electing to use a third party to submit manifest information to CBP via EDI messaging must possess a valid Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association.
Truck Carrier to Obtain Release of Cargo, Etc. Via EDI to Third Party Transmitter
CBP also states that truck carriers who elect to use this transmission method will not have access to operational data and will not receive status messages on ACE transactions, nor will they have access to integrated Account data from multiple system sources. These truck carriers will be able to obtain release of their cargo, crew, conveyances, and equipment via EDI messaging back to the transmitter of the information.
CBP adds that the third party-transmitted manifest information to CBP via EDI must be consistent with the requirements of the ACE Truck Manifest Test.
(CBP cautions however, that if the third party transmitting the truck manifest information to CBP does not use EDI, but instead wishes to use the ACE portal, the truck carrier who is submitting that information to the third party (for transmission to CBP) must have an ACE Truck Carrier Account as described in the CBP General Notice issued in February 2004.)
Previous Notices Continue to be Applicable
CBP states that all of the other aspects of the ACE Truck Manifest Test as set forth in a September 13, 2004 notice, as modified on March 21, 2005, continue to be applicable. All of the aspects of the February 4, 2004 notice also continue to be applicable, except as revised in this notice.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/14/04 and 09/15/04 news, 04091410 and 04091515, for BP summaries of CBP's notice announcing the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) test of automated truck manifest for truck carrier accounts. See ITT's Online Archives or 03/22/05 news, 05032205, for BP summary of a CBP notice modifying the NCAP test of automated truck manifest. See ITT's Online Archives or 02/05/04 and 02/06/04 news, 02040505 and 04020605, for BP summaries of CBP's general notice announcing the NCAP test of ACE periodic monthly statements and the establishment of ACE broker accounts.
See ITT's Online Archives or 03/16/06 news, 06031610, for BP summary of CBP's decision to postpone indefinitely the implementation of "Phase 4" Enforcement for mandatory advance electronic information requirements for truck carriers.)
CBP Contact - James Swanson james.d.swanson@dhs.gov
CBP General Notice (FR Pub 03/29/06) available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-4571.pdf