Empty ACE Manifest (CBP)
Last updated 20 July 2026
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| This article is part of the BorderConnect ACE eManifest Guide and the Shipment Release Types Guide |
An Empty ACE Manifest is an ACE eManifest trip that is transmitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without any shipment bills attached. It is commonly used for empty trucks, bobtail moves, or situations where the driver must still notify CBP of the conveyance arrival even though there is no standard ACE shipment to report.
CBP's advance truck-cargo regulations apply to trucks required to report arrival that will have commercial cargo aboard.[1] Although CBP does not generally require ACE cargo data when a truck is physically empty or bobtailing, some ports, carriers, or internal compliance procedures may still require or recommend filing an empty ACE Manifest.
An empty ACE Manifest can also be useful when the conveyance needs to be visible to CBP before arrival, but the goods being transported are handled outside normal ACE shipment entry workflows. When in doubt, confirm the correct reporting process with the port, broker, or carrier compliance contact before the driver arrives.
Video Tutorial
When to Use
An Empty ACE Manifest may be used when the truck is crossing into the United States without standard ACE shipment bills. This may include empty trailers, bobtail moves, or certain special paperwork situations where CBP still needs advance notice of the trip.
Common examples include:
- Empty truck or trailer returning to the United States.
- Bobtail crossing with no trailer attached.
- Trailer repositioning with no commercial cargo.
- Certain special-document moves where the driver must present paperwork directly to CBP.
- Situations where the carrier or port recommends filing a trip-only ACE Manifest.
| An Empty ACE Manifest should not be used to avoid reporting commercial cargo. If the truck is carrying reportable freight, the shipment should be added to the ACE Manifest using the correct shipment type. |
Creating an Empty ACE Manifest
The basic process is to create the ACE trip, leave the manifest without shipment bills, and then sync the trip with CBP.
Start a New ACE Manifest
Navigate to Start New ACE eManifest under the ACE eManifest menu option.
Save the Trip Without Shipments
Enter the ACE eManifest trip data, but do not create any shipment records. Click Save in the top left of the page to open the ACE eManifest Details page.
Sync with CBP
Review the trip information to confirm that the carrier, trip number, port, ETA, truck, trailer, driver, and passenger details are correct. Once reviewed, click Sync with CBP to transmit the empty ACE Manifest.
Wait for Acceptance
After CBP accepts the empty ACE Manifest, the manifest status will change to On File. In BorderConnect, this is shown by three blue status bars.
Once the manifest is on file, the driver can proceed to the border according to the carrier's crossing procedures. The driver should still carry any paperwork required for the movement.
Special Paperwork Moves
Some movements may not have standard ACE shipment functionality in BorderConnect or may require the driver to present documents directly to CBP. In these cases, carriers may use an empty or trip-only ACE Manifest to report the conveyance while the driver presents the required paperwork at the port.
| Movement Type | How It Is Commonly Handled |
|---|---|
| Military or Department of Defense Goods | Department of Defense or other U.S. Government shipments may have special release or duty-free procedures, including procedures under 19 CFR Part 10.[2] If other shipments are aboard, those shipments should be reported normally. If only the government shipment is aboard and it cannot be reported as a standard ACE shipment, confirm the correct process with CBP or the port. |
| Instruments of International Traffic | Certain Instruments of International Traffic under 19 CFR 10.41b, such as reusable pallets, containers, or similar traffic devices, may not require a normal ACE shipment bill.[3] If there are no other shipments on the ACE Manifest, the carrier may create an empty ACE Manifest and have the driver declare the instruments at the port. |
| Special paperwork moves can vary by port, carrier procedure, broker instruction, and CBP direction. Confirm the correct process before the driver arrives at the border. |
Best Practices
- Confirm that the truck is truly empty before filing an Empty ACE Manifest.
- Do not use an Empty ACE Manifest when reportable commercial cargo is on board.
- Verify the port, ETA, truck, trailer, driver, and passenger details before syncing with CBP.
- Wait until the manifest is accepted and shows On File before the driver arrives.
- Make sure the driver has any required paperwork for special-document movements.
- Confirm unusual moves with the port, broker, or compliance contact before crossing.
- Use eManifest Sync to transmit or update the manifest.
Related Guides
- ACE Manifest Software User Guide
- Creating and Submitting a New ACE Manifest
- ACE Manifest Details Page
- eManifest Sync Feature
- Shipment Types for ACE and ACI eManifest
- PAPS Shipment Type
- In-Bond Shipment Type
- BorderConnect ACE Manifest Software