How Do I Prepare My Driver To Cross Into The United States Commercially And What Documents Do They Need (DIY Customs Consulting)

This article is part of the Customs Compliance Guide

Commercial truck drivers entering the United States with a commercial load should be prepared to show both personal travel documentation and the shipment paperwork needed to connect the truck, driver, and cargo to the electronic filings. The exact documents depend on the driver's citizenship or immigration status, the release type, the shipment paperwork, and whether the movement uses PAPS, FAST, in-bond, Section 321, or another process.

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What travel documents are required when crossing into the U.S.?

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Driver Identification

An example of an approved WHTI document, a Canadian Passport

The correct travel document depends on the driver's citizenship, immigration status, and trusted-traveler membership. A regular provincial or state driver's licence is not enough by itself to prove citizenship or authorization to enter the United States.

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), travelers entering the United States must present a passport or another acceptable document that denotes identity and citizenship. CBP states that WHTI-compliant documents for land and sea entry may include passports, passport cards, enhanced driver's licences, and trusted traveler cards, depending on the traveler's citizenship and status.

Canadian Citizens

Under WHTI, Canadian citizens entering the United States by land may present a valid Canadian passport, an enhanced driver's licence, or a trusted-traveler program card such as NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST. CBP's commercial truck driver guidance also states that Canadian citizens entering the United States as visitors for business do not require either a passport or a visa.

Canadian citizens generally do not require a nonimmigrant visa for business or pleasure travel, although exceptions apply for specific purposes of travel or admissibility issues. Drivers should confirm requirements before dispatch if they have a criminal history, prior refusal, immigration issue, non-standard trip purpose, or other admissibility concern.

U.S. Citizens and Residents

U.S. citizens returning to the United States should carry a WHTI-compliant document such as a U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, enhanced driver's licence, or trusted-traveler program card. These documents allow CBP to verify identity and citizenship at the land border.

U.S. lawful permanent residents should present a valid I-551 permanent resident card, commonly called a green card. CBP's WHTI guidance states that WHTI does not affect U.S. lawful permanent residents, who are still required to present their permanent resident card or other valid evidence of permanent residence status.

Other Foreign Nationals

Canadian permanent resident status does not make a driver a Canadian citizen for U.S. entry. A Canadian permanent resident who is not a Canadian citizen should carry a valid passport from their country of citizenship and either a valid U.S. visa, if required for that nationality and purpose of travel, or an approved ESTA if eligible under the Visa Waiver Program.

The U.S. Department of State explains that Visa Waiver Program travelers must have valid ESTA approval, and CBP states that VWP travelers entering the United States by land require an approved ESTA before travel. Drivers who are not Canadian citizens should confirm their U.S. entry requirements before being dispatched to the border.

B-1 Truck Drivers

CBP states that truck drivers must meet the general entry requirements as visitors for business under B-1 classification when entering the United States commercially. CBP explains that B-1 truck drivers may pick up or deliver cargo traveling in the stream of international commerce, but they may not perform local pickup and delivery of cargo that stays entirely within the United States.

The driver should be prepared to explain the international nature of the trip if asked by CBP. Dispatch should avoid assigning foreign drivers to domestic U.S. point-to-point moves unless immigration and cabotage rules have been reviewed.

Shipment Paperwork

In addition to the driver's identification, the driver should carry paperwork that allows CBP and the customs broker to match the truck to the ACE eManifest, entry, and release type. Dispatch should confirm the manifest, broker entry, port, trip number, and shipment control number before the driver reaches primary inspection.

For most loaded commercial shipments, the driver may need:

• ACE eManifest lead sheet or trip paperwork showing the trip number;
• PAPS barcode label or written shipment control number (SCN), when PAPS is being used;
• bill of lading or waybill;
• commercial invoice;
• packing list or other shipper paperwork, where applicable;
• customs broker instructions and entry or release status; and
• certificates, permits, or other government agency documents for regulated goods, where applicable.

The driver should confirm the ACE eManifest has been accepted and that the broker entry or release process is ready before arriving at the U.S. primary booth.

ACE Lead Sheet

For ACE eManifest trips, the driver should have an ACE lead sheet, QR barcode driver's copy, trip receipt, or other trip document that connects the truck and driver to the accepted electronic manifest. The document should show the trip number and other details needed for CBP to locate the ACE Manifest.

Some ports or carrier procedures may require a QR barcode driver's copy. CBP has published an ACE Truck Manifest QR Specifications Guide for QR barcode driver copies.

PAPS Shipments

For PAPS freight, the driver should carry the paperwork that includes the PAPS barcode or written Shipment Control Number. The PAPS number must match the shipment number transmitted on the ACE eManifest and the customs broker's entry information.

If the truck has multiple PAPS shipments, each shipment should have its own PAPS number and supporting invoice or bill of lading package. The driver should know which paperwork belongs to each shipment so CBP can identify the cargo quickly if documents are requested.

FAST Shipments

FAST is a commercial clearance process for known low-risk shipments entering the United States from Canada or Mexico. CBP states that FAST enrollment is open to truck drivers from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and that FAST lanes process cargo at land border ports of entry that handle commercial cargo.

Using a FAST lane is not just a matter of the driver having a FAST card. CBP states that participation in FAST requires every link in the supply chain, from manufacturer to carrier to driver to importer, to be certified under the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program.

For a FAST movement, dispatch should confirm:

• the driver has a valid FAST commercial driver card;
• the carrier and importer meet the applicable trusted-trader requirements;
• the goods are eligible for FAST processing;
• the ACE eManifest and broker entry are prepared correctly for the FAST movement; and
• the driver still has the required immigration or identity documents.

If a load involves CTPAT, Partners in Protection (PIP), or FAST instructions, follow the specific broker, carrier, importer, and port instructions for that shipment.

Driver Checklist

Before the driver leaves for the border, dispatch should confirm:

• the driver has the correct WHTI, passport, visa, ESTA, permanent resident, FAST, or other entry document;
• the ACE eManifest has been accepted by CBP;
• the broker entry or release process is ready;
• the ACE lead sheet, QR barcode driver's copy, or trip paperwork has been provided to the driver;
• the PAPS barcode or Shipment Control Number matches the ACE shipment;
• the invoices, bills of lading, packing lists, permits, and certificates are in the truck;
• the port of arrival matches the ACE eManifest;
• any FAST, in-bond, Section 321, hazardous goods, or regulated goods requirements have been confirmed; and
• the driver understands whether the trip is international commerce and not a prohibited domestic U.S. move.

BorderConnect Usage

In BorderConnect, dispatchers can create and transmit the ACE eManifest, generate the ACE lead sheet or QR barcode driver's copy, enter PAPS shipment numbers, and monitor manifest status before the driver reaches the U.S. border. The trip number, driver, truck, trailer, SCAC, port, ETA, and Shipment Control Number should match the driver's paperwork.

If there is a last-minute change to the driver, tractor, trailer, port, trip number, or PAPS paperwork, dispatch should update the ACE eManifest and confirm the updated status before the driver reaches the booth. For regulated, FAST, in-bond, or Section 321 shipments, the shipment type and supporting fields should be reviewed before transmission.

Related Resources

• FAST Information
• PAPS Sticker
• PAPS Shipment Type
• Generating ACE and ACI eManifest Lead Sheets
• ACE Manifest Software User Guide
• Section 321 Shipment Type
• In-Bond Shipment Type
• ACE Manifest Lead Sheets
• PAPS Barcode Labels