Empty ACE Manifest (CBP): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:02, 20 January 2026

This article is part of the BorderConnect ACE eManifest Guide and the Shipment Release Types Guide

How to create an empty ACE Manifest in BorderConnect.

An Empty ACE eManifest (sometimes called an “empty trip” manifest) is an ACE Truck eManifest where the carrier transmits only the trip/conveyance information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and does not transmit any shipment bills.

CBP’s advance cargo reporting rules are focused on the electronic transmission of cargo data prior to arrival. When a truck is physically empty (including bobtail moves), CBP regulations do not require cargo data to be transmitted, because there is no cargo to report.^[1]

That said, CBP guidance and port practice recognize that carriers may still transmit an empty trip eManifest as a best practice in certain situations, such as:

When a port expects a trip record for operational awareness
When the driver will be presenting documentation for a shipment type that is not transmitted electronically as a standard ACE shipment release type
When the carrier wants CBP to have advance notice of the truck’s arrival

CBP’s ACE Truck Manifest guidance emphasizes advance notification of truck arrivals and explains that the eManifest system is used to transmit trip/conveyance information as well as shipment data where applicable.^[2]

To process an ACE Manifest in BorderConnect, follow these steps.

Step 1

Navigate to 'Start New ACE eManifest' under the ACE eManifest menu option.

Step 2

Once you have entered your ACE eManifest trip data, navigate to the top left and click 'Save'. This will bring you to your ACE eManifest details page.

Step 3

Once you confirm the data entered for the ACE eManifest, click 'Sync with CBP'. This will transmit your empty ACE eManifest to CBP, and let CBP know that no shipments will be transmitted along with the ACE eManifest.

Wait For Acceptance

Once CBP accepts your empty trip ACE eManifest, and the status of your eManifest turns to three blue bars, your driver will be cleared to cross.

Creating an empty trip for other shipment scenarios

ATA Carnet shipments: ATA Carnets are processed under specific CBP carnet procedures at the port of entry and are not typically transmitted as a standard electronic shipment release type in the ACE truck manifest workflow. Carriers should follow current CBP and port instructions for presenting the carnet documentation at arrival. When there are no other shipments on the truck, many carriers transmit an empty trip eManifest so CBP has advance notice of the truck’s arrival.

Department of Defense (DOD) / U.S. Government shipments: Certain U.S. Government or Department of Defense shipments are cleared under specific CBP regulations and certification requirements rather than as standard ACE truck shipment release types. While the treatment depends on the shipment and documentation, carriers should follow the instructions provided by the Government shipper or entry filer and any port-specific guidance. If other commercial shipments are on the truck, those shipments must still be transmitted normally. If the only freight is Government/DOD cargo, an empty trip eManifest is often used to notify CBP of the arrival.

Instruments of International Traffic (IIT) — 19 CFR 10.41a / 10.41b

CBP regulations governing Instruments of International Traffic are found in 19 CFR §§ 10.41a and 10.41b:

19 CFR 10.41a covers common IITs such as pallets, skids, racks, lift vans, shipping tanks, and similar articles used in international traffic.^[3]
19 CFR 10.41b addresses certain serially numbered substantial holders or outer containers released under specific conditions.^[4]

Many pooled pallets and returnable transport items (such as CHEP pallets) are commonly designated as IIT under 10.41a when they meet the regulatory criteria. When a truck is transporting only IITs and no other shipments that are transmitted electronically, carriers may transmit an empty trip eManifest and have the driver declare the IIT movement and present supporting documentation at the port, following port instructions.

References

↑ 19 CFR § 123.92 — Electronic information for truck cargo required in advance of arrival https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/123.92
↑ CBP — e-Manifest: Trucks (ACE Truck Manifest User Guide) https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACE%20Truck%20Manifest%20User%20Guide.pdf
↑ 19 CFR § 10.41a — Instruments of international traffic https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/10.41a
↑ 19 CFR § 10.41b — Clearance of serially numbered substantial holders or outer containers https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/10.41b

[cfr-123-92-1] 19 CFR § 123.92 — Electronic information for truck cargo required in advance of arrival https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/123.92

[ace-truck-guide-2] CBP — e-Manifest: Trucks (ACE Truck Manifest User Guide) https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACE%20Truck%20Manifest%20User%20Guide.pdf

[cfr-1041a-3] 19 CFR § 10.41a — Instruments of international traffic https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/10.41a

[cfr-1041b-4] 19 CFR § 10.41b — Clearance of serially numbered substantial holders or outer containers https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/10.41b

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{#ev:youtube|4dk7OFhuUXY|960|center|How to create an empty ACE Manifest in BorderConnect.}}
-Although CBP only recommends to process ACE Manifests for empty loads and are not required, they are however required to be filed for ATA-Carnet's, Military Goods and 10.41B CHEP Instruments of International Traffic as there is no functionality to create those shipments in ACE.
+An '''Empty ACE eManifest''' (sometimes called an “empty trip” manifest) is an ACE Truck eManifest where the carrier transmits only the '''trip/conveyance information''' to [[US Customs and Border Protection - General Information|U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)]] and does '''not''' transmit any shipment bills.
+CBP’s advance cargo reporting rules are focused on the electronic transmission of '''cargo data''' prior to arrival. When a truck is physically empty (including bobtail moves), CBP regulations do not require cargo data to be transmitted, because there is no cargo to report.<ref name="cfr-123-92">19 CFR § 123.92 — Electronic information for truck cargo required in advance of arrival https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/123.92</ref>
+That said, CBP guidance and port practice recognize that carriers may still transmit an empty trip eManifest as a '''best practice''' in certain situations, such as:
+* When a port expects a trip record for operational awareness
+* When the driver will be presenting documentation for a shipment type that is not transmitted electronically as a standard ACE shipment release type
+* When the carrier wants CBP to have advance notice of the truck’s arrival
+CBP’s ACE Truck Manifest guidance emphasizes advance notification of truck arrivals and explains that the eManifest system is used to transmit trip/conveyance information as well as shipment data where applicable.<ref name="ace-truck-guide">CBP — ''e-Manifest: Trucks (ACE Truck Manifest User Guide)'' https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACE%20Truck%20Manifest%20User%20Guide.pdf</ref>
 == To process an ACE Manifest in BorderConnect, follow these steps. ==
@@ Line 15: / Line 24: @@
 === Step 2 ===
-* Once you have entered your ACI eManifest conveyance data, navigate to the top left and click 'Save'. This will bring you to your ACI eManifest details page.
+* Once you have entered your ACE eManifest trip data, navigate to the top left and click 'Save'. This will bring you to your ACE eManifest details page.
 [[Image:Start-new-ace-manifest-empty.jpg|800px]]
@@ Line 21: / Line 30: @@
 === Step 3 ===
-* Once you confirm the data entered for the ACI eManifest, click 'Sync with CBSA'. This will transmit your empty ACI eManifest to CBSA, and let CBSA know that no shipments will be transmitted along with the ACI eManifest.
+* Once you confirm the data entered for the ACE eManifest, click 'Sync with CBP'. This will transmit your empty ACE eManifest to CBP, and let CBP know that no shipments will be transmitted along with the ACE eManifest.
-[[Image:Sync-required-aci.png|800px]]
+[[Image:Emanifest-sync-required.png|800px]]
 === Wait For Acceptance ===
-* Once CBSA accepts your empty conveyance ACI eManifest, and the status of your eManifest turns to three blue bars, your driver will be cleared to cross.
+* Once CBP accepts your empty trip ACE eManifest, and the status of your eManifest turns to three blue bars, your driver will be cleared to cross.
+[[Image:Acemanifest-onfile-status.png]]
+== Creating an empty trip for other shipment scenarios ==
-[[Image:Aciacceptedonfile.png]]
+;ATA Carnet shipments
+:ATA Carnets are processed under specific CBP carnet procedures at the port of entry and are not typically transmitted as a standard electronic shipment release type in the ACE truck manifest workflow. Carriers should follow current CBP and port instructions for presenting the carnet documentation at arrival. When there are no other shipments on the truck, many carriers transmit an empty trip eManifest so CBP has advance notice of the truck’s arrival.
-== Declaring an empty conveyance as a CSA Approved carrier ==
+;Department of Defense (DOD) / U.S. Government shipments
+:Certain U.S. Government or Department of Defense shipments are cleared under specific CBP regulations and certification requirements rather than as standard ACE truck shipment release types. While the treatment depends on the shipment and documentation, carriers should follow the instructions provided by the Government shipper or entry filer and any port-specific guidance. If other commercial shipments are on the truck, those shipments must still be transmitted normally. If the only freight is Government/DOD cargo, an empty trip eManifest is often used to notify CBP of the arrival.
-[[Image:Csaleadsheetempty.jpg‎|thumb|right|200px|CSA Empty Truck Conveyance]]For drivers who do not have a FAST or CDRP card, employed by a company that is CSA Approved, you must follow the fore mentioned 3 steps, and provide an ACI eManifest lead sheet to the officer.
+;Instruments of International Traffic (IIT) — 19 CFR 10.41a / 10.41b
-If a company is CSA approved and the driver has a valid FAST or CDRP card meeting existing requirements for CSA release, but traveling with an empty conveyance. A CSA lead sheet must be provided declaring the wording 'Empty Truck'.<ref>https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d23/d23-2-1-eng.html</ref>
+:CBP regulations governing Instruments of International Traffic are found in 19 CFR §§ 10.41a and 10.41b:
+::* '''19 CFR 10.41a''' covers common IITs such as pallets, skids, racks, lift vans, shipping tanks, and similar articles used in international traffic.<ref name="cfr-1041a">19 CFR § 10.41a — Instruments of international traffic https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/10.41a</ref>
+::* '''19 CFR 10.41b''' addresses certain serially numbered substantial holders or outer containers released under specific conditions.<ref name="cfr-1041b">19 CFR § 10.41b — Clearance of serially numbered substantial holders or outer containers https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/10.41b</ref>
+:Many pooled pallets and returnable transport items (such as CHEP pallets) are commonly designated as IIT under 10.41a when they meet the regulatory criteria. When a truck is transporting only IITs and no other shipments that are transmitted electronically, carriers may transmit an empty trip eManifest and have the driver declare the IIT movement and present supporting documentation at the port, following port instructions.
 == References ==