🔖 This article is part of the BorderConnect Software User Guide, the BorderConnect ACI eManifest Guide and the BorderConnect ACE Manifest Guide

Generating Lead Sheets (Cover Sheets)

A comprehensive guide to creating, printing, and distributing driver paperwork for ACI (Canada) and ACE (USA) eManifests.

Type: Documentation Time: 10 Minutes

Overview

A lead sheet (also commonly referred to as a cover sheet, driver copy, or manifest summary) is the physical or digital document the driver presents to the customs officer at the primary inspection booth. Rather than handing over a thick stack of bills of lading and invoices, the driver hands over this single summary page. The officer scans the barcode on the lead sheet, which instantly ties the physical truck arriving at the border to the electronic trip and cargo data previously transmitted to CBSA or CBP systems.

To ensure a seamless crossing and prevent manual data entry delays by the officer, a standard lead sheet prominently displays critical trip information. This typically includes the unique Trip Number, Port of Entry, Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), Conveyance details (truck and trailer license plates), and the Driver's name.

ACI eManifest: Required for shipments entering Canada (CBSA). ACI lead sheets must contain, at a minimum, a barcoded Conveyance Reference Number (CRN) or a barcoded Cargo Control Number (CCN) with a handwritten CRN.
ACE Truck eManifest: Required for shipments entering the United States (CBP). While standard 1D barcodes are universally accepted, CBP also supports high-density QR Code lead sheets. These QR codes speed up processing, are easier for handheld scanners to read through truck windows, and are now mandatory at certain ports of entry (such as those under the Laredo Field Office).

Flexible Formats: You can generate lead sheets individually for a specific trip, complete with a full breakdown of the shipments (Detailed Lead Sheet), or create a "Batch" of pre-numbered, empty lead sheets for drivers to keep in their trucks. Additionally, while physical paper is the standard, many customs officers now accept the barcode scanned directly from a driver's smartphone or tablet screen.

📄 Choose Your Method

Method	Best For	Output
Print from Manifest	Day-to-day dispatch workflow.	PDF Driver Copy (Standard or Detailed)
Email / Fax	Sending to a remote driver or terminal.	Direct Email/Fax with PDF attachment
Batch Generation	Drivers needing a stack of pre-numbered sheets.	PDF batch of 50+ sheets
ACE QR Code	Operations using QR-based scanning at U.S. ports.	PDF with embedded QR Code

Method 1: Print from Manifest

🇨🇦 ACI (Canada)

1. Open the ACI eManifest Details Page. 2. Click Print near the top of the page. 3. Choose your format:

Standard: Concise, best for speed.
Detailed: Includes full commodity info.

4. Save or Print the PDF.

🇺🇸 ACE (USA)

1. Open the ACE eManifest Details Page. 2. Click Print near the top of the page. 3. Select your preferred format:

Driver's Copy: Standard format.
QR Barcode Copy: For QR-ready ports.

4. Save or Print the PDF.

Method 2: Email or Fax

Direct Delivery

Use this when the driver is not at the terminal and needs the paperwork sent to their phone or a truck stop.

Step 1: Open the Manifest Details page (ACI or ACE).
Step 2: Click Email or Fax (next to the Print button).
Step 3: Enter the email address or fax number (with area code).
Step 4: Click Send.

Method 3: Batch Generation

Creating a Stack of Lead Sheets

Useful when drivers must leave with paperwork before the manifest is finished. You hand out a range (e.g., 50 sheets), and the driver calls in the number they used.

1 Open Menu

Go to Account → ACE/ACI Coversheets.

2 Set Range

Enter the Carrier Code and the Trip Number Range (e.g., 0001 to 0050).

3 Save & Print

Click Save/View PDF to generate the full document.

ACE QR Code Driver Copies

QR Requirements

CBP introduced optional QR barcode driver copy support for ACE in 2020. This allows officers to scan a single 2D barcode to retrieve the trip.

Usage: Open the ACE eManifest Details page.
Action: Click Print/Fax/Email → QR Barcode Driver's Copy.
Compliance: BorderConnect generates these according to CBP's specific technical standards.

💡 Troubleshooting & Best Practices

Drivers don't have the sheet? Use Batch Lead Sheets so they always have a blank one in the cab.
Trip Number Confusion? Enforce a rule: "Driver must text the Trip Number / CRN from the batch sheet before leaving pickup."
Fax Failed? Ensure the area code was included. Try re-sending; if it fails twice, switch to Email.

References