Postal Shipment (CBSA Cargo Exemption)

🔖 This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide

Postal Shipment (CBSA Cargo Exemption)

A guide to reporting mail (Canada Post, U.S. Mail, International) under CBSA ACI eManifest highway rules.

Type: Cargo Exemption / Exception Country: Canada (CBSA)

Overview

A Postal Shipment is a specific category for mail being transported across the border by a contract carrier. This exemption applies specifically to mail moving from a foreign postal service (such as the United States Postal Service) to Canada Post.

International mail items are presented by Canada Post to the CBSA for processing through the designated mail stream, where duties and taxes are assessed as required.

Eligibility Note: To qualify for the ACI/eManifest mail exemption, the load must consist of mail (Canada Post, U.S. Mail, or International). Merchandise shipped via the postal service may be subject to different assessment rules upon arrival at the CBSA mail processing center.

Reporting Categories in ACI eManifest

The method for reporting mail depends on whether the conveyance is carrying a full load of mail or a mixed load containing other commercial goods.

Category	Reporting Requirement
Full Load Only	Listed by CBSA as a Highway Cargo and Conveyance exemption. No full eManifest cargo or conveyance submission is required for this specific scenario.
Mixed Load	Treated as an exception to cargo data. The carrier must submit a Highway Conveyance Document (Trip) and identify the mail using the postal exception code.

How to Process in BorderConnect

1 Start New ACI eManifest

Begin by entering your trip (conveyance) information, including the Trip Number, Port of Entry, and Estimated Time of Arrival.

2 Assign the Postal Exception

Instead of creating a separate ACI Shipment, you will apply the exception code directly to the equipment.

• Identify Equipment: Select the truck, trailer, or container where the mail is physically loaded.
• Set Exception: Apply the Postal exception code to notify Customs that a postal shipment is aboard.
• Mixed Loads: If commercial shipments (like PARS) are also present, create those ACI Shipments normally while maintaining the Postal exception on the equipment.

Applying the Postal Exception Code in BorderConnect

3 Transmit and Verify

• Transmit: Click Sync with CBSA to send the trip-only manifest (or manifest with mixed shipments).
• 1-Hour Rule: Ensure the manifest (and any broker clearances for mixed PARS loads) is on file for at least one hour before the driver arrives at the border.
• At the Border: The driver should be prepared to present the ACI lead sheet and identify the load as mail to the CBSA officer.

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