Creating and Submitting a New ACE Manifest (ACE Manifest)

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This article is part of the BorderConnect ACE Manifest Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for creating a new ACE eManifest and submitting it to CBP using BorderConnect ACE Manifest software. It assumes that you have an active software subscription with BorderConnect. If you are not presently set up with an account, please contact BorderConnect.

Video Tutorial

Video walkthrough

Overview

Selecting Start New ACE eManifest from the ACE eManifests menu.

An ACE eManifest reports the truck, trailer, driver, passengers, and shipment information for commercial highway trips entering the United States. In BorderConnect, the user creates the trip, adds any required shipment information, and then transmits the completed manifest to CBP.

Before the driver arrives at the border, the ACE eManifest must be accepted by CBP. Any PAPS or QP In-Bond shipments on the manifest must also have the required broker entry or clearance information on file.

Start a New Manifest

On the top menu bar, under ACE eManifests, select Start New ACE eManifest.

Enter Trip Details

Enter the information on the Start New ACE Manifest Page, including the trip number, port of entry, ETA, driver, truck, and trailer.

Click Save when finished.

Review Manifest Details

BorderConnect will open the ACE Manifest Details Page. Use this page to review the information already entered and correct anything that needs to be changed.

You can also use this page to:

Enter additional trailers if applicable.
Enter additional drivers if applicable.
Enter passengers if applicable.
Indicate that you have Instruments of International Traffic aboard.
Indicate whether IITs are loaded on the truck or trailer.

Add a Shipment

If you are not crossing empty and have freight other than IITs, you are required to create a shipment to report it.

To add a shipment, click Create New Shipment near the bottom of the ACE Manifest Details Page.

Enter Shipment Details

Enter the information on the Start New ACE Shipment Page and click Save when finished.

Add Shipper Details

BorderConnect will open the ACE Shipment Details Page.

Select the shipper for the shipment using Quick Assign Shipper for shippers you have used before, or Assign Shipper to enter a new one. If you already quick assigned the shipper on the previous page, you can skip this step.

Add Consignee Details

Select the consignee for the shipment using Quick Assign Consignee for consignees you have used before, or Assign Consignee to enter a new one.

If you already quick assigned the consignee on the previous page, you can skip this step.

Add Commodity Details

To add the commodity, click Create Commodity.

Enter the information on the Add/Edit Commodity for ACE Shipment Page. When all required fields have been entered, click Save.

Additional Commodities

If you have additional commodity information for this shipment that is not covered by the previous entry, click Back to Shipment to return to the ACE Shipment Details Page and add additional commodities.

Otherwise, the shipment is complete. It is usually recommended to provide a general description, total quantity, and weight that covers all of the goods on the shipment at once, rather than entering multiple commodities separately.

Return to Manifest

Click Back to ACE eManifest to return to the ACE eManifest Details Page.

If you have additional shipments to add to the manifest, repeat the shipment-entry steps above. All shipments on the truck must be accounted for on one manifest.

Transmit to CBP

When the manifest is complete and all shipments have been entered, click Sync with CBP to transmit the manifest to CBP.

The Current Status should update from Draft to Transmitted to CBP, and the send request for the manifest should appear in the History/Status Messages.

Verify Acceptance

Check back to verify that the manifest has been accepted by CBP. Response times vary, but the average is about one minute.

It is important to return to the manifest and make sure it was received and accepted by Customs. You can do this by leaving the manifest page open and refreshing your browser, or by looking up the manifest on the ACE Manifest Search Page and selecting View.

BorderConnect also leaves a link to the last manifest and shipment viewed, which makes it easier to return after accessing another part of the system.

Once the manifest is accepted, the Current Status will update to Complete Manifest On File with CBP. You will also see an accepted response for the trip listing the appropriate number of shipments. This means the manifest is accepted and on file with CBP.

Status Guide

BorderConnect ACE Manifest software provides a visual way to determine the status of your eManifest.

For a list of all statuses an ACE Manifest may encounter, see the ACE Manifest Status Guide.

Verify Broker Clearance

Verify that all PAPS and QP In-Bond shipments aboard are cleared by the customs broker.

The broker's entry numbers will show in the History/Status Messages. The trip's Current Status will update to Complete Manifest and Entry Numbers On File with CBP once all PAPS and QP In-Bonds listed on the trip are cleared by the broker.

In order to comply with ACE Manifest requirements, you are required to ensure that both your manifest and the broker clearance on any PAPS shipments are on file with CBP before the driver arrives at the border.

Best Practices

Create the ACE eManifest before the driver is close to the border. This allows time to correct missing details, shipment issues, or CBP reject responses before arrival.

Review the trip number, port, ETA, truck, trailer, driver, and shipment control numbers before sending. These fields are common sources of manifest rejects when entered incorrectly.

Do not send the driver to the border until the manifest is accepted by CBP and any required broker entries are on file. A manifest that is only drafted or transmitted is not complete until CBP has accepted it.