BorderConnect Onboarding and Readiness Guide

🔖 This article is part of the BorderConnect Software User Guide and the Customs Compliance Guide

Onboarding for BorderConnect: Be Ready to File ACI (Canada) and/or ACE (U.S.)

This guide prepares highway carriers and dispatch teams to complete the government registrations and setup steps required before using BorderConnect to create and transmit:

• ACI eManifest (Canada – CBSA)
• ACE Truck e-Manifest (United States – CBP)

The goal is to ensure your manifests can be submitted, accepted, and time-stamped early enough that drivers arrive at the border compliant and ready.

Crossing into Canada (CBSA ACI eManifest & CARM Client Portal)

CBSA’s highway ACI/eManifest guidance states that the Highway Cargo Document (and Combined Highway Document) may be submitted up to 30 days in advance, but must be received and validated by CBSA at least one hour prior to arrival at the First Port of Arrival (FPOA). CBSA’s eManifest Portal User Guide also states that trade documents must be received and validated at least one hour prior to arrival at the FPOA.

Suggested screenshots to add (Canada)

Use screenshots from your environment wherever possible (recommended). File names below are placeholders.

• CARM Client Portal landing page (login/registration)

File:Carm-portal-landing.png

CARM Client Portal landing page (login/registration)

• CARM: Enrol in the Carrier program (menu path / enrolment screen)

File:Carm-enrol-carrier-program.png

CARM: Enrolment in the CBSA Carrier program

• CARM: Delegation of Authority (pending requests / manage delegations)

File:Carm-delegation-authority.png

CARM: Delegation of Authority (approve broker/service provider access)

• BorderConnect: ACI accepted status/time stamp (submission results)

File:Borderconnect-aci-accepted.png

BorderConnect: Example ACI acceptance/status screen

• Driver lead sheet / trip summary example (your template)

File:Aci-driver-leadsheet.png

Example: Driver lead sheet / trip summary (Canada)

Step 1: Obtain a CBSA Carrier Code

A CBSA carrier code is a four-character unique identifier required to transact business with CBSA (highway, marine, air, rail).

CBSA’s Highway Carrier Code Application guidance describes the process:

1. Create an account in the CARM Client Portal (CCP)
2. Complete the carrier code application in the CCP
3. After you receive your carrier code, apply to transmit ACI to CBSA and complete the testing process (as applicable)

CBSA also notes that new carriers can request a carrier code in the CARM Client Portal when registering.

Step 2: Set up your CARM Client Portal access

The CARM Client Portal is CBSA’s portal for account access, onboarding documentation, and program enrolment workflows.

Practical onboarding checklist:

1. Create user access in CCP (ensure your business profile is correctly established/linked)
2. Assign internal roles so your staff can manage enrolment and approvals inside CCP
3. Complete program enrolments needed for your operations (Carrier program; ACI/eManifest transmission readiness)

CBSA provides a step-by-step user guide for enrolling in the Carrier program in the CCP.

Step 3: Delegation of Authority (brokers and/or service providers)

If you need a broker or third-party service provider to act on your behalf in CBSA systems, CBSA documents how Delegation of Authority works inside the portal.

• Delegation of Authority user guide (PDF)
• CBSA walkthrough on delegating authority to a third party service provider (video transcript page)

Practical onboarding checklist:

1. Decide which parties need access (broker and/or service provider)
2. Review any pending requests in CCP
3. Approve the correct permissions so your broker/service provider can support your CBSA transactions

Step 4: Confirm you can meet the ACI highway timing requirement

CBSA highway ACI/eManifest rules require the data be received and validated at least one hour prior to arrival at the FPOA.

CBSA Memorandum D3-4-2 includes an operational caution: properly formatted messages submitted with less than one hour of review time may be accepted but can generate an "insufficient review time" warning, and AMPS may be applicable.

Dispatch readiness checklist (Canada):

• Plan submissions so they are accepted and validated before the one-hour window
• Update ETA/plans when trips change to avoid late submissions
• Ensure conveyance + cargo references match your paperwork and dispatch info

Step 5: Broker coordination (PARS shipments)

Many Canadian commercial shipments require broker clearance before release. For onboarding, confirm:

• Your broker has your correct CBSA carrier code
• Your shipment identifiers (CCNs / references) align between carrier reporting and broker entry processes
• Dispatch timing supports both ACI acceptance and broker certification before arrival

Step 6: Driver readiness (Canada)

Before dispatch, ensure the driver has:

• Port of entry and ETA (consistent with what was transmitted)
• Paperwork per your SOP
• Trip references/lead sheet used by your operation
• Confirmation the ACI submission is accepted in time (one-hour rule)

Crossing into the United States (CBP ACE Truck e-Manifest)

CBP’s ACE Truck Manifest User Guide states carriers are required to submit an e-Manifest one hour prior to arrival into the United States. CBP also maintains an official guidance landing page for the e-Manifest: Trucks user guide.

Suggested screenshots to add (United States)

• CBP ACE Truck Manifest User Guide cover page (or relevant excerpt)

File:Cbp-ace-truck-manifest-user-guide.png

CBP: ACE Truck Manifest User Guide reference (excerpt)

• BorderConnect: ACE accepted status/time stamp (submission results)

File:Borderconnect-ace-accepted.png

BorderConnect: Example ACE acceptance/status screen

• Driver trip summary / trip number reference (your template)

File:Ace-driver-trip-summary.png

Example: Driver trip summary / manifest reference (United States)

Step 1: Understand the CBP one-hour prior submission rule

CBP requires truck carriers to submit the e-Manifest one hour prior to arrival into the United States.

Dispatch readiness checklist (U.S.):

• Submit and confirm acceptance early enough to satisfy the one-hour rule
• Ensure tractor/trailer and trip details are accurate to prevent rejections or delays

Step 2: Prepare consistent trip and equipment data

Before going live, define your internal standard for capturing:

• Tractor number
• Trailer number
• Trip/manifest reference used by your dispatch team
• Shipment references required by your SOP and broker workflow

This improves accuracy and reduces last-minute corrections.

Step 3: Broker coordination (entries / PAPS workflows)

For many U.S. commercial shipments, broker entry must align with manifest data. During onboarding, confirm:

• Your shipment control numbering rules (as used by your broker) align with what dispatch/operations will use
• Data transmitted on the trip matches the shipment paperwork and broker entry data

Step 4: Driver readiness (United States)

Before dispatch, ensure:

• ACE trip is accepted in time (one-hour rule)
• Driver has your trip reference/summary sheet so the trip can be quickly located if needed at the border

BorderConnect Go-Live Readiness Checklist

Canada (ACI/eManifest)

✔ CBSA carrier code issued and on file ✔ CARM Client Portal access set up and carrier program enrolment complete ✔ Delegation of Authority handled for brokers/service providers where needed ✔ Dispatch process supports CBSA’s one-hour validation requirement

United States (ACE Truck e-Manifest)

✔ Dispatch process supports CBP’s one-hour e-Manifest requirement ✔ Trip/equipment data capture is consistent and validated prior to submission

Next Steps in BorderConnect

• Create and submit your first ACI eManifest
• Create and submit your first ACE Manifest
• eManifest Processing Guide (end-to-end workflow)