Declaring an Empty ACI eManifest (ACI eManifest)

This article is part of the BorderConnect ACI eManifest Guide and the Shipment Release Types Guide

An empty ACI eManifest is used when a conveyance is entering Canada with no cargo shipments. CBSA's current highway pre-arrival memorandum states that empty conveyances require a conveyance transmission with an empty indicator, but highway carriers who arrive at the First Port of Arrival with empty conveyances and have not transmitted ACI/eManifest data will not receive AMPS for failing to transmit ACI/eManifest for that empty conveyance until further notice.<ref name="d3-4-2">CBSA, Memorandum D3-4-2: Highway pre-arrival and reporting requirements, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d3/d3-4-2-eng.html</ref>

Filing an empty ACI eManifest is still recommended where possible because it gives CBSA the conveyance information before arrival.

Video walkthrough

Video walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5yKveetLuE

Creating an empty ACI eManifest in BorderConnect

Step 1

Navigate to Start New ACI eManifest under the ACI eManifests menu.

Step 2

Enter the ACI eManifest conveyance data, such as the trip number, port, ETA, driver, truck, and trailer. Do not create any shipments for an empty conveyance.

After entering the conveyance data, click Save at the top left. BorderConnect will open the ACI eManifest details page.

Step 3

Confirm that the ACI eManifest data is correct, then click Sync with CBSA. This transmits the empty ACI eManifest to CBSA and indicates that no shipments will be transmitted with the conveyance.

Sync with CBSA

Wait for acceptance

Once CBSA accepts the empty conveyance ACI eManifest and the status turns to three blue bars, the driver is cleared to cross.

Declaring an empty conveyance as a CSA-approved carrier

For drivers who do not have a FAST or CDRP card and are employed by a CSA-approved company, follow the empty ACI eManifest steps above and provide an ACI eManifest lead sheet to the officer.

If the company is CSA-approved and the driver has a valid FAST or CDRP card meeting existing requirements for CSA release, but is travelling with an empty conveyance, a CSA lead sheet must be provided declaring the wording Empty Truck.<ref name="d23-2-1">CBSA, Memorandum D23-2-1: Customs Self-Assessment Program for Carriers, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d23/d23-2-1-eng.html</ref>

References