Flying Truck (CBSA Cargo Exemption)
| This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide |
A Flying Truck is a Canadian Cargo Exception used when air cargo physically arrives in Canada on a highway conveyance and moves on the bonded air carrier's waybill.[1][2]
In a flying truck scenario, the cargo has already been reported under the air mode and is moved in-bond to the destination Canadian airport using the bonded air carrier’s air waybill; the highway carrier reports the conveyance and presents the paper air waybill at the first port of arrival (FPOA).[2][1]
Declaring Flying Truck in ACI eManifest
Flying Truck shipments are required to be reported on an ACI eManifest. To report a Flying Truck shipment the carrier will need to set the flying truck exception code on either the truck, trailer or container, depending on where the shipment is loaded. This tells Customs that there is a Flying Truck shipment aboard. The carrier will not create an ACI Shipment to report the Flying Truck Shipment, it must be reported using the exception code only. The example below shows how to report Flying Truck shipments using BorderConnect's ACI eManifest software.[3][1][2]
If a Flying Truck Shipment is the only thing being transported, the carrier can transmit the ACI eManifest with only the trip (conveyance) portion, and no ACI Shipments attached. Otherwise, the other shipments can be added and the manifest can be transmitted normally.[3]
In addition to including the Flying Truck exception code on the ACI eManifest, the driver is required to present the air carrier's paper documents, including air waybill completed with the air carrier's cargo control number, to the officer when arriving at the border. The paper air waybill must show the Canadian airport as the ultimate destination airport and is presented at the destination airport sufferance warehouse.[2][1]
If the airline is not bonded, the highway carrier must transmit both ACI/eManifest cargo and conveyance data and the shipment is no longer considered a flying truck.[2][1]
| In order to comply with ACI eManifest requirements you are required to ensure that both your manifest and the broker clearance on any PARS shipments are on file with CBSA for at least one hour before the driver arrives at the border. |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 CBSA Memorandum D3-4-2, Highway pre-arrival and reporting requirements (definition of “Flying truck” and flying truck process): https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d3/d3-4-2-eng.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 CBSA – Reporting requirements for air cargo transported by a highway carrier (flying trucks) (updated 2025-02-21): https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/trade-commerce/ft-eac-eng.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 CBSA ECCRD – Chapter 7: ACI/eManifest Highway Portal (lists Flying Truck as an exception / conveyance-only flow): https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/manif/eccrdhi-deccerout-eng.html