eManifest Filing Software — ACE & ACI Electronic Manifests

File US-bound ACE eManifests and Canada-bound ACI eManifests from a single platform. Preflight validation, real-time status tracking, templates, and batch filing for carriers of all sizes.

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What Is an eManifest?

An eManifest (electronic manifest) is a digital document that carriers must submit to customs authorities before a commercial vehicle crosses an international border. It contains detailed information about three key components:

  • Conveyance — The truck and trailer being used, including license plate numbers, equipment identification, and seal numbers.
  • Crew — The driver operating the vehicle, including name, date of birth, citizenship, and travel document details (passport, FAST card, etc.).
  • Shipments — Every shipment on the truck, including shipper, consignee, commodity description, weight, quantity, and PAPS or PARS numbers.

eManifests replaced paper-based manifest reporting and are now mandatory for all commercial trucks crossing the US-Canada border. The system allows customs authorities to perform risk assessments before the truck arrives, enabling faster processing for low-risk shipments and more targeted enforcement.

ACE eManifest vs. ACI eManifest

ACE eManifest (US-Bound)

The ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) system is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). All commercial trucks entering the United States must have an ACE eManifest filed at least 1 hour before arrival.

  • Filed with CBP through the ACE portal
  • Required 1 hour before arrival at US border
  • Uses PAPS numbers for shipment tracking
  • Supports Section 321, in-bond, and standard entries
  • Automated trip number assignment
  • Real-time status responses from CBP

ACI eManifest (Canada-Bound)

The ACI (Advance Commercial Information) system is operated by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Commercial trucks entering Canada must file an ACI eManifest at least 1 hour before arrival.

  • Filed with CBSA through the ACI portal
  • Required 1 hour before arrival at Canadian border
  • Uses PARS numbers for shipment tracking
  • Exemptions available for CSA-approved carriers
  • Cargo Control Number (CCN) assignment
  • RNS release notifications from CBSA

Filing Requirements and Deadlines

For highway carriers (trucks), both ACE and ACI eManifests must be filed at least 1 hour before the truck arrives at the port of entry. This pre-arrival window allows customs authorities to review the manifest data, perform risk assessments, and process release requests from customs brokers.

While 1 hour is the minimum, filing earlier is strongly recommended. Early filing gives customs more time to process the manifest, reduces the chance of delays, and allows your customs broker to submit PAPS or PARS release requests with ample time for pre-clearance.

All Shipment Types Supported

TruckerPro Border supports every shipment type you encounter in cross-border trucking:

  • Regular commercial shipments
  • Section 321 de minimis entries
  • In-bond shipments (IT, T&E, IE)
  • FAST / CSA shipments
  • Empty equipment movements
  • Personal effects and household goods

Each shipment type has specific data requirements. TruckerPro's preflight validation checks every field before submission, catching errors that would cause a rejection — saving time and preventing costly delays at the border.

Frequently Asked Questions About eManifest Filing

An eManifest (electronic manifest) is a digital document that carriers must submit to customs authorities before a commercial vehicle crosses an international border. It contains information about the conveyance (truck and trailer), crew (driver), and all shipments being carried. For US-bound shipments, eManifests are filed with CBP through the ACE system. For Canada-bound shipments, they are filed with CBSA through the ACI system.

An eManifest is required for every commercial truck crossing into the United States or Canada. The only exception is for Canadian carriers enrolled in the CSA (Customs Self Assessment) program, who may have reduced filing requirements for Canada-bound shipments. All other commercial crossings require a complete eManifest filed before arrival.

For highway carriers (trucks), eManifests must be filed at least 1 hour before arrival at the US or Canadian border. However, filing earlier is recommended — it gives customs more time to process the manifest and reduces the risk of delays. TruckerPro's crossing planner helps you time your filing correctly based on estimated arrival times.

An eManifest requires: conveyance information (truck and trailer details, license plates), crew information (driver name, date of birth, citizenship, travel documents), shipment information (shipper, consignee, commodity description, weight, quantity, PAPS/PARS numbers), and seal numbers if applicable. TruckerPro's profile system stores reusable data so you only enter it once.

TruckerPro supports all standard eManifest shipment types including regular commercial shipments, Section 321 de minimis entries, in-bond shipments, FAST/CSA shipments, empty equipment movements, and personal effects. Each shipment type has specific data requirements that TruckerPro validates before filing.

Yes. Both ACE and ACI allow amendments to eManifests after filing, as long as the truck has not yet arrived at the port of entry. You can add or remove shipments, update driver information, change conveyance details, or cancel the entire manifest. TruckerPro supports amendments and cancellations directly from the dashboard, and tracks all changes in the manifest's status timeline.

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