Mandatory e-Manifest: Truck for Advance Cargo Information to be Implemented in California, Texas, and New Mexico Effective April 19, 2007

(The first group of ports - all land border ports in Washington and Arizona, as well as the ports of Pembina, Neche, Walhalla, Maida, Hannah, Sarles and Hansboro, North Dakota - where e-Manifest: Truck has been mandated for advance cargo information purposes, will begin implementation on January 25, 2007. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/12/07 news, 07011205, for BP summary on the phased enforcement for the first group of ports.)

CBP sources have previously stated that ACE participants that file the e-Manifest: Truck still need to make entry, as required (unless excepted). (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/06/06 news, 06110615, for BP summary of CBP's FAQ on e-Manifest, which includes information on mandatory e-Manifest and entry/release.)

Once Mandatory e-Manifest: Truck is Implemented at a Port, No Other System Will Satisfy Advance Cargo Information Requirement

CBP notes that although other systems that have been deemed acceptable by CBP for transmitting advance truck manifest data will continue to operate and may still be used in the normal course of business for purposes other than transmitting advance truck manifest data, use of systems other than ACE will no longer satisfy advance electronic cargo information requirements at a particular port of entry once the 90-day notice for that port has been published and the 90-day period has elapsed.

April 19, 2007 Mandatory Implementation for California, Texas, and New Mexico

The implementation of mandatory e-Manifest: Truck for advance cargo information purposes at all land border ports in the states of California, Texas, and New Mexico will begin April 19, 2007. (CBP sources note that the enforcement of mandatory e-Manifest: Truck at this second group of ports is expected to follow the same pattern of phased enforcement as the first group of ports.)

Five Groups of Ports Still Pending Mandatory Implementation

According to CBP, ACE e-Manifest: Truck has yet to be implemented as the mandatory EDI system for advance manifest purposes at the remaining ports of entry identified below. CBP will provide 90 days' notice through publication in the Federal Register prior to requiring use of ACE e-Manifest: Truck for the transmission of advance electronic truck cargo information at a particular group of ports.

These remaining ports of entry are divided into five groups, listed in sequential order, as follows²:

1. all ports of entry in the states of Michigan and New York
2. all ports of entry in the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine
3. all ports of entry in the states of Idaho and Montana
4. all remaining ports of entry in the state of North Dakota (those not identified as having a specific compliance date) and all ports of entry in the state of Minnesota
5. all ports of entry in the state of Alaska

(CBP notes that the use of ACE to transmit advance electronic truck cargo information will not be required in any port in which CBP has not first conducted the test. This means that ACE will be implemented as the mandatory advance manifest transmission system at some ports even while it is still being tested at others.)

Options for Transmitting e-Manifest: Truck

CBP has previously stated that truck carriers have the following options to transmit e-Manifests for the truck environment:

Self file through the web-based ACE Portal or via a CBP approved EDI, or

Use third parties, who usually require a fee

CBP added that to begin filing e-Manifests for the truck environment, truck carriers are encouraged to establish an ACE carrier account or obtain certification to file via EDI, or contact a customs broker, service provider, or other authorized filer to discuss how to submit e-Manifests.

(CBP has also previously stated that advance electronic cargo information for inbound truck cargo must be received at least one hour prior to the carrier's reaching the first port of arrival in the U.S., or no later than 30 minutes prior to the carrier's reaching the first port of arrival in the U.S. for shipments qualified for clearance under the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program (with exceptions for cargo in transit from point to point in the U.S. and certain informal entries). See ITT's Online Archives or 08/18/04 news, 04081805 for BP summary.)

¹ Although this summary uses the term "e-Manifest: Truck," CBP's also uses the terms "ACE Truck Manifest", and "e-Manifest: Trucks". All three mean the same thing.

² Note that the sequential order of the groups provided by this CBP notice is somewhat different from that announced in the October 27, 2006 Federal Register notice. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/30/06, 06103005, for BP summary of the October 2006 FR notice.) CBP adds that although further changes to this order are not currently anticipated, CBP will state in future notices if changes do occur.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/16/07 news, 07011635 4, for previous BP summary announcing that these ports would be the next group where e-Manifest: Truck would become mandated.

See ITT's Online Archives or 10/26/06 news, 06102605, for BP summary of CBP press release announcing its plans for implementing mandatory e-Manifest: Truck for advance electronic cargo notification.)

CBP contact- James Swanson james.d.swanson@dhs.gov

CBP notice (FR Pub 01/19/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-762.pdf.