Declaring an Empty ACI eManifest (ACI eManifest)

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

An empty ACI eManifest is used when a highway conveyance is entering Canada with no cargo shipments. CBSA's highway pre-arrival memorandum states that empty conveyances require a conveyance transmission with an indicator identifying the conveyance as empty.

CBSA guidance has also stated that highway carriers arriving at the First Port of Arrival with empty conveyances and no ACI/eManifest transmission will not receive AMPS for failing to transmit ACI/eManifest for that empty conveyance until further notice. Filing an empty ACI eManifest is still recommended where possible because it gives CBSA the conveyance, driver, equipment, port, and ETA information before arrival.

Video Tutorial

How to create an empty ACI eManifest in BorderConnect

Overview

An empty ACI eManifest is different from an ACI eManifest with exempt cargo. An empty conveyance means the truck or trailer has no cargo shipments to report, while exempt cargo may still require a cargo exemption to be declared on the trip.

In BorderConnect, the carrier creates the ACI eManifest trip with the required conveyance information, but does not add any shipments. When the trip is transmitted, CBSA receives the empty conveyance information.

The driver should still have an ACI eManifest lead sheet available at the port. The lead sheet helps the border officer locate the transmitted trip if the officer needs to review it manually.

Creating an Empty ACI eManifest

Start a new manifest

Navigate to Start New ACI eManifest under the ACI eManifests menu.

Starting a new ACI eManifest.

Enter conveyance details

Enter the ACI eManifest conveyance data, including the trip number, first Canadian port of entry, ETA, driver, truck, and trailer. Do not create any shipments for an empty conveyance.

After entering the conveyance data, click Save at the top left. BorderConnect will open the ACI eManifest details page.

Saving the empty ACI eManifest trip.

Sync with CBSA

Review the ACI eManifest details page and confirm that the trip, driver, truck, trailer, port, and ETA are correct. Because the conveyance is empty, there should be no shipments listed on the manifest.

When the information is correct, click Sync with CBSA. This transmits the empty ACI eManifest to CBSA and indicates that no shipments are being transmitted with the conveyance.

Sync with CBSA.

Wait for acceptance

Wait for CBSA to accept the empty ACI eManifest. In BorderConnect, the accepted status is shown as three blue bars.

Once the empty ACI eManifest is accepted and on file with CBSA, the driver may proceed to the border with the ACI lead sheet.

ACI eManifest accepted status.

CSA Empty Conveyances

CSA Empty Truck Conveyance.

CSA-approved carriers may handle empty conveyances differently depending on the driver and the crossing process being used. If the driver does not have a FAST or CDRP card, the carrier should create and transmit an empty ACI eManifest in BorderConnect and provide the driver with the ACI eManifest lead sheet.

If the carrier is CSA-approved and the driver has a valid FAST or CDRP card meeting CSA requirements, the driver may present a CSA lead sheet for the empty conveyance. CBSA Memorandum D23-2-1 states that CSA lead sheets must be approved by a CBSA officer before CSA approval, and carriers using CSA reporting should follow the approved CSA reporting process.

CSA carriers can order BorderPrint CSA Lead Sheet Cards for CSA highway reporting. For a CSA empty conveyance, ensure the driver has the correct CSA empty-truck lead sheet or card before arriving at the port.

BorderConnect Tips

Do not add a shipment to the ACI eManifest if the truck is truly empty. Adding a shipment changes the manifest from an empty conveyance to a cargo movement.

Use the correct driver, truck, trailer, port, and ETA before transmitting. If this information changes after transmission, update the ACI eManifest and sync the changes with CBSA.

Confirm the trip is accepted by CBSA before the driver arrives. If the manifest is still pending or rejected, correct the issue before sending the driver to the border.

Keep the ACI eManifest lead sheet with the driver even when the conveyance is empty. This gives the officer a quick way to locate the transmitted trip.

See also

• BorderConnect ACI eManifest Guide
• Start New ACI eManifest Page
• ACI eManifest Details Page
• CSA Program Information
• CSA Shipment Type
• Shipment Release Types Guide
• BorderPrint ACI eManifest Lead Sheets
• BorderPrint CSA Lead Sheet Cards