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What Is An ACE Manifest And How Do I Register For It To Send ACE Manifests To CBP (DIY Customs Consulting)

Last updated 5 August 2026

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This article is part of the Customs Compliance Guide
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) logo

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) eManifest program lets highway carriers submit electronic pre-arrival trip and shipment information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP describes ACE as its system for processing trade and cargo import and export data, and as part of the trade-processing environment used by CBP and the trade community.[1]

For highway carriers, an ACE Manifest is normally required before bringing commercial goods into the United States by truck. Under 19 CFR 123.92, an incoming truck carrier, or another authorized party, must present electronic cargo information to CBP for truck cargo required to be reported under the regulation.[2]

Failing to file the required manifest, filing it late, or arriving before the required filing period has elapsed can result in refused entry, delays, or monetary penalties. CBP's truck manifest guidance states that Trade Act penalties may apply when required advance cargo information is not provided accurately and timely.[3]

Filing Timeframes

ACE truck manifest data can be submitted before the driver reaches the border. Under 19 CFR 123.92, truck cargo information must be received by CBP through an approved electronic data interchange system no later than 1 hour before arrival at the first U.S. port of arrival, or 30 minutes before arrival for qualifying FAST shipments.[2]

In general:

  • Standard highway shipments must be accepted by CBP at least 1 hour before arrival at the first U.S. port of arrival.
  • FAST-qualified shipments may use the shorter 30-minute filing window when the carrier, driver, and shipment qualify under the Free and Secure Trade program.[4]
  • Carriers should file early enough to correct rejected or incomplete data before the driver reaches the border.

Information Required

Information required when filing an ACE Manifest with CBP generally includes trip, conveyance, crew, equipment, and shipment details. CBP's ACE Truck Manifest User Guide describes truck manifest workflows for adding trip, conveyance, equipment, crew, passenger, and shipment information before submitting the manifest.[3]

Common trip-level information includes:

  • Unique trip number.
  • Port of entry.
  • Estimated date and time of arrival.
  • Truck or tractor information.
  • Trailer information, if applicable.
  • Driver information.
  • Passenger information, if applicable.
  • Seal information, if applicable.
  • Instruments of International Traffic (IIT) information, if applicable.

Common shipment-level information includes:

  • Shipment entry type.
  • Shipment Control Number.
  • Shipper.
  • Consignee.
  • Description of goods.
  • Quantity and quantity type.
  • Weight.
  • Hazardous goods information, if applicable.

For PAPS and other brokered shipments, carriers should also confirm that the customs broker has filed the required entry or release information before the driver arrives.

How to Register

Before registering for ACE Manifest software, the carrier must have an active Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) registered with the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). CBP states that electronic manifest records using a lapsed SCAC may be rejected, and carriers should maintain SCAC renewals with NMFTA.[5]

Once the carrier has an active SCAC, it can choose how it will transmit ACE eManifests. Common options include the ACE portal, a direct EDI connection, or a third-party service provider such as BorderConnect ACE eManifest software.

When registering for BorderConnect ACE Manifest software, the carrier will need to provide:

  • Company information, such as legal company name, SCAC code, Canadian carrier code if applicable, head office address, and email address.
  • Contact information and login credentials, such as the registering user's name, title, email address, phone number, username, and password.

After the registration email is validated, carriers with a valid SCAC can begin preparing and transmitting ACE Manifests through BorderConnect.

BorderConnect Relation

BorderConnect is an ACE eManifest software provider used by highway carriers to create, transmit, correct, and track ACE Manifests. BorderConnect's ACE Manifest software is designed to help carriers enter trip and shipment data, transmit manifests to CBP, receive status responses, and generate ACE lead sheets for drivers.

In BorderConnect, the carrier can create reusable profiles for drivers, trucks, trailers, shippers, consignees, and commodities. This helps dispatchers build ACE eManifests faster and reduces repeated manual entry.

BorderConnect does not replace CBP or the customs broker. CBP receives and processes the ACE Manifest, while the customs broker handles the entry or release filing for brokered shipments such as PAPS.

BorderConnect Workflow

To create an ACE Manifest in BorderConnect, the user typically starts a new ACE eManifest, enters the trip number, port of entry, ETA, driver, truck, trailer, and shipment details, then transmits the manifest to CBP. BorderConnect's ACE creation guide describes the workflow as creating the trip, creating the shipment, transmitting to CBP, and verifying acceptance and broker entry.[6]

For a PAPS shipment, the Shipment Control Number entered in BorderConnect should match the PAPS barcode sent to the customs broker. If the number does not match, the broker's entry and the carrier's ACE Manifest may not connect properly at the border.

Once the manifest is accepted, the dispatcher can print, fax, or email the ACE lead sheet to the driver. The driver should carry the ACE lead sheet and shipment documents when approaching the first U.S. port of entry.

Video Tutorial

How to Create an ACE Manifest using BorderConnect

Common Mistakes

  • Sending the driver to the border before the ACE Manifest has been accepted.
  • Arriving before the 1-hour or FAST 30-minute filing period has elapsed.
  • Entering a Shipment Control Number that does not match the broker's PAPS entry.
  • Using an expired or inactive SCAC.
  • Assuming ACE acceptance means the shipment has been customs released.
  • Forgetting driver, passenger, equipment, or hazardous goods details.
  • Filing the wrong shipment type for a shipment that should move in bond, Section 321, PAPS, or another ACE shipment type.

References

  1. ↑ ACE and Automated Systems
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 19 CFR 123.92 - Electronic information for truck cargo required in advance of arrival
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 ACE Truck Manifest User Guide
  4. ↑ Federal Register - Required Advance Electronic Presentation of Cargo Information for Truck Carriers
  5. ↑ CBP - SCAC Renewal Reminder
  6. ↑ BorderConnect - Creating and Submitting a New ACE Manifest
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