Preparing Partial ACI eManifests in Two Carrier Scenarios (ACI eManifest)
Last updated 27 July 2026
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| This article is part of the BorderConnect ACI eManifest Guide |
This guide offers instructions on how to prepare an ACI eManifest in situations where one carrier contracts another carrier to transport goods on their behalf. It assumes you already have an active software subscription with BorderConnect ACI eManifest software and that your carrier code is already registered for ACI with CBSA. If you are not yet registered, please refer to the registration instructions.
In ACI, normally a single party prepares and submits a complete eManifest to CBSA. However, when one carrier gives its PARS or other types of shipments to another carrier to take into Canada, each carrier prepares a separate part of the manifest. CBSA’s highway pre-arrival rules require commercial carriers to provide advance cargo and conveyance information, and section 7.1 of the Customs Act makes carriers responsible for ensuring information submitted to CBSA is true, accurate, and complete.[1] In this type of arrangement, the terms Primary Carrier and Secondary Carrier are used to differentiate between the two parties.
Video Tutorial
Primary Carrier
- Represents the carrier that is giving away their shipments. Although the shipments will be clearing under their Carrier Code, the Primary Carrier will not be physically transporting the goods into Canada.
- Maintains liability for the cargo data submitted under its carrier code and must retain records needed to support the cargo report and release.
- Responsible for submission of ACI eManifest shipment, or cargo, data.
- Their carrier code must be used in the Cargo Control Number of the shipment. CBSA states that a cargo control number begins with a CBSA-assigned carrier code followed by a unique shipment number assigned by the carrier.[2]
Secondary Carrier
- Represents the carrier that is physically transporting the goods to Canada and is liable to report the goods at the First Point of Arrival (FPOA).
- Retains books and records for proof of the trip or conveyance report, including the stamped ACI lead sheet where applicable.
- Responsible for the submission of ACI eManifest trip, or conveyance, data.
- Their carrier code must be used in the trip number, also known as the conveyance reference number.
- The trip submitted by the Secondary Carrier quotes the cargo control numbers submitted by the Primary Carrier, linking them to create a complete manifest.
- Does not require a separate letter of authorization from the Primary Carrier to transport goods under the Primary Carrier’s carrier code when the ACI eManifest structure is used as the operational link between the submitted cargo and conveyance records.
Because each carrier must prepare a separate part of the manifest, refer to the appropriate section below for instructions on manifesting as the Primary or Secondary Carrier.
Preparing ACI Shipment Data as the Primary Carrier
The Primary Carrier is responsible for reporting the shipment data in ACI eManifest. Even though the Primary Carrier is not physically taking the goods into Canada, the shipments are still clearing under its Carrier Code, so the Secondary Carrier cannot send the full ACI Shipment as if it were the Primary Carrier. Likewise, the Primary Carrier cannot submit the Secondary Carrier’s ACI Trip, because the trip must be transmitted under the carrier code of the carrier operating the conveyance.
CBSA explains that highway carriers must transmit advance cargo and conveyance data within the required highway timeframes and that the submitted information must be accurate and complete.[1] In a Primary/Secondary Carrier move, this means the Primary Carrier prepares only the ACI Shipment data, and the Secondary Carrier later prepares the ACI Trip and references the Primary Carrier’s cargo control number.
- On the top menu bar, under ACI eManifests, select Start New ACI Shipment. It is important to start a new shipment and not a new manifest, because in this situation the shipment should not initially be attached to a trip.
- Enter the information on the Start New ACI Shipment Page. Complete this page as you normally would, except that the Attached to Trip Number field should be left blank. When selecting the First Canadian Port of Entry, use the port where the Secondary Carrier will cross. When finished, click Save.
- Make sure the rest of the shipment information is completed as normal, including shipper, consignee, and commodity information. CBSA requires detailed commodity descriptions that are clear, concise, and in plain language so the cargo can be identified.[3]
- Transmit the shipment to CBSA. Under Send to CBSA, select Send New Shipment Request. Unlike the normal procedure where you would use Send to CBSA on the main page of the manifest, remain on the ACI Shipment Details Page and use the shipment-level Send to CBSA option there.
- Check back to verify that the shipment is accepted by CBSA. You can do so by leaving the shipment page open and using your browser's refresh button, or by looking up the shipment on the ACI Shipment Search Page and selecting View. Once the shipment is accepted, the Current Status will update to On File with CBSA and an accepted response will appear for the shipment under the shipment history.
You have now filed your part of the manifest as a Primary Carrier, and you can advise the Secondary Carrier that the shipment is on file in ACI. The Secondary Carrier will need the Cargo Control Number you used and the First Canadian Port of Entry in order to complete the trip submission. If you have more shipments for the Secondary Carrier to take, you may want to repeat this process for all of them before advising the Secondary Carrier.
Preparing ACI Trip Data as the Secondary Carrier
The Secondary Carrier is responsible for reporting the trip data in ACI eManifest. Because the shipments are clearing under the Primary Carrier's Carrier Code, the Secondary Carrier cannot submit the Primary Carrier’s shipment data as its own cargo. Likewise, the Primary Carrier cannot submit the trip for the Secondary Carrier, because the trip must be under the carrier code of the carrier physically transporting the goods.
The Secondary Carrier must prepare the ACI Trip and link to the shipment data submitted by the Primary Carrier. CBSA’s highway reporting requirements apply to carriers transporting goods into Canada by highway, including the requirement to provide advance electronic cargo and conveyance information before arrival.[1]
Getting Started
Before getting started, make sure that the Primary Carrier has submitted the shipment data in ACI and that it is on file with CBSA. It will not be possible to complete the manifest before the Primary Carrier has completed its part. The Primary Carrier must advise that the ACI Shipment is on file, provide the Cargo Control Number, and confirm the port used on the shipment.
If you have not set up manifests for taking the Primary Carrier's shipments before, make sure the Primary Carrier’s carrier code is added to your account. On the top menu bar, under Account, select Company. This will bring you to the Company Details Page. On this page, check under the Canadian Carrier Codes List to see if the Primary Carrier's carrier code is there. If it is not, add it by clicking the New Canadian Carrier Code button. If it is there but listed as Deactive, click the Activate link to enable it.
You will also need to enable an option in your account for reference-only shipments. On the top menu bar, under Account, select Company Preferences. From there, set Allow ACI "Reference Only" Shipments to Yes and click the Save button at the top of the page.
Preparing the Manifest
- On the top menu bar, under ACI eManifests, select Start New ACI eManifest.
- Enter the information on the Start New ACI eManifest Page as you normally would, but be aware that your First Canadian Port of Entry must match the port entered by the Primary Carrier when they set up the ACI Shipment. When finished, click Save.
- Review the trip information on the ACI eManifest Details Page, and enter additional trailers, drivers, passengers, seal numbers, or containers if applicable.
- Click on the Create New Shipment button located toward the bottom of the ACI eManifest Details Page.
- On the Start New ACI Shipment Page, check the box for Shipment Reference Only. This will hide the fields that you do not need to complete, since the Primary Carrier has already transmitted that data. Complete the remaining fields. For Cargo Control Number, use the number supplied by the Primary Carrier, including the Primary Carrier’s carrier code. When finished, click Save.
- Click on the Back to ACI eManifest button to return to the ACI eManifest Details Page.
- If you have additional shipments to add to the manifest, repeat steps 4 through 6. All shipments on the truck must be accounted for on one manifest.
- Transmit the manifest to CBSA. From the top of the ACI eManifest Details page, click Sync with CBSA.
- Check back to verify that the manifest is accepted by CBSA. You can do so by leaving the manifest page open and using your browser's refresh button, or by looking up the manifest on the ACI eManifest Search Page and selecting View. Once the manifest is accepted, the Current Status will update to On File with CBSA and an accepted response will appear for the trip in the history. This means that the manifest has successfully linked to the Primary Carrier's shipments and is complete.
If you are subscribed to BorderConnect's PARS Checking program, you will not be automatically updated with transaction numbers for the Primary Carrier's shipments, because their carrier code is different. You can, however, send a Status Query to CBSA, which may return the transaction number if it is on file. To do so, use the Send Status Query button that appears on the ACI Shipment Details Page. For more information about the Status Query function, see the guide.
Troubleshooting
When sending trip information as the Secondary Carrier, there are three main issues that can cause your submission to be rejected. The following are common rejects, what they mean, and how to resolve them.
- Invalid Status of Related Request. This means that the Primary Carrier's ACI Shipment is not currently on file. To resolve this, first double-check the Cargo Control Number with the Primary Carrier. If it is correct, then the ACI Shipment may not have been submitted yet or may have been rejected. Ask the Primary Carrier to file or correct it and advise you when it is on file. Once it is on file, click Sync with CBSA again.
- CCN Cannot be Related to 2 Conveyances. This means that the Primary Carrier's ACI Shipment is on file but is already linked to a different trip. To resolve this, contact the Primary Carrier and ask that they de-link the shipment. Once this has been done, click Sync with CBSA again. If the shipment was linked to another manifest in your own BorderConnect account, the Primary Carrier will not be able to assist; contact BorderConnect Support for help.
- Port Code on Manifest Must Equal Port Code on Conveyance. This means that the Primary Carrier's ACI Shipment is on file but is set up for a different port than the one entered on your trip. To resolve this, either change the port on your trip if it is incorrect, or contact the Primary Carrier and ask them to update the port on their ACI Shipment. Once corrected, click Sync with CBSA again.
As always, contact BorderConnect Support for help resolving rejects, as some situations may be more complicated than the examples listed here.
Related CBSA requirements
CBSA’s highway pre-arrival and reporting policy explains that highway carriers must provide required pre-arrival cargo and conveyance information and must report goods at the First Port of Arrival.[1] CBSA also notes that carriers are responsible for ensuring the information they provide, including ACI/eManifest information, is true, accurate, and complete.[1]
CBSA’s cargo control guidance explains that a Cargo Control Number identifies a shipment and is made from the carrier code plus a unique shipment number.[2] When a Primary Carrier files cargo and a Secondary Carrier files the conveyance, matching the correct Cargo Control Number and port is essential to link the cargo to the trip.