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Electronic Manifests (Customs Glossary Guide)

Last updated 12 August 2026

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This article is part of the Customs Glossary Guide

An Electronic Manifest, also known as an eManifest or e-Manifest, is an electronic submission of shipment, cargo, conveyance, equipment, crew, and related border-crossing information to a customs authority before arrival. For Canada-U.S. highway carriers, eManifests are most commonly associated with ACE eManifest for shipments entering the United States and ACI eManifest for shipments entering Canada.

Electronic manifests allow customs agencies to receive standardized data before a truck reaches the border. This supports advance risk assessment, faster processing for compliant shipments, and better enforcement of commercial reporting requirements.

Canada-U.S. Context

In Canada-bound highway movements, the electronic manifest is filed through Advance Commercial Information (ACI) and sent to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA states that its eManifest Portal allows the trade community to electronically transmit pre-arrival information through the Internet, and that all highway carriers must have a valid CBSA-issued carrier code.[1]

In U.S.-bound highway movements, the electronic manifest is filed through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and sent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP describes ACE as the system through which the trade community reports imports and exports and through which the U.S. government determines admissibility.[2]

For cross-border carriers, ACE and ACI serve similar purposes on opposite sides of the border. ACE is used when the truck is entering the United States, while ACI is used when the truck is entering Canada.

Highway Carrier Data

In a highway eManifest workflow, the electronic manifest normally includes trip, equipment, driver, and shipment information. This allows the customs agency to connect the carrier, the conveyance, and the goods before arrival.

Data Type Canada ACI Example U.S. ACE Example
Carrier identifier CBSA Carrier Code SCAC
Trip identifier Conveyance Reference Number, often called the ACI trip number ACE trip number
Shipment identifier Cargo Control Number, such as a PARS number Shipment Control Number, such as a PAPS number
Equipment Truck, trailer, container, and loaded-on details Truck, trailer, and equipment details
Crew Driver and passenger details Driver and passenger details
Arrival details First Canadian Port of Entry and ETA U.S. Port of Arrival and ETA
Release process PARS, CSA, In-Bond, Temporary Admission Permit, or another ACI shipment type PAPS, Section 321, In-Bond, Free of Duty, or another ACE shipment type

CBSA describes highway carrier trade documents as including Highway Cargo Documents, Highway Conveyance Documents, and Combined Highway Documents; a Highway Cargo Document is identified by a Cargo Control Number, while a Highway Conveyance Document is identified by a Conveyance Reference Number.[3]

Timing Requirements

For Canada-bound highway shipments, CBSA's highway pre-arrival memorandum states that electronic cargo and conveyance information must be transmitted to and validated by CBSA at least one hour before arrival at the First Port of Arrival.[4]

For U.S.-bound highway shipments, CBP's truck manifest regulations require inbound truck carriers to submit electronic manifest information before arrival, with the general timing requirement being at least one hour before arrival at the first U.S. port of entry, or at least 30 minutes for qualifying FAST shipments.[5]

Carriers should confirm that the eManifest has been accepted before the driver arrives at the border. A late, rejected, or incomplete eManifest can delay the driver and may create compliance issues.

Where eManifests Are Used

Electronic manifests are used throughout the Canada-U.S. highway customs workflow. They do not replace all documents, but they connect the carrier's trip and shipment data to customs systems before arrival.

Process Used For Example
ACE Manifest Reporting U.S.-bound truck, driver, trip, and shipment data to CBP. A carrier files an ACE Manifest for a PAPS shipment entering the United States.
ACI eManifest Reporting Canada-bound truck, driver, trip, and shipment data to CBSA. A carrier files an ACI eManifest for a PARS shipment entering Canada.
PARS / Broker release Connecting the carrier's ACI cargo control number to the broker's release request. The PARS number on the ACI shipment should match the number sent to the customs broker.
PAPS / Broker entry Connecting the carrier's ACE shipment control number to the broker's entry. The PAPS number on the ACE shipment should match the broker's U.S. entry filing.
In-Bond Reporting goods moving inland under customs control. A bonded carrier files an ACE or ACI in-bond shipment instead of a standard border release.
Empty conveyance Reporting a truck entering with no cargo, when required or recommended. A carrier files an empty ACI eManifest with no shipments attached.

BorderConnect Use

BorderConnect helps carriers create, transmit, and track ACE and ACI eManifests from one web-based system. BorderConnect provides real-time eManifest tracking so carriers can know when eManifests receive broker clearance or when shipments arrive or are released from customs.[6]

In BorderConnect, users enter the practical shipment and trip details, such as driver, truck, trailer, port, ETA, shipment type, cargo control number, or shipment control number. BorderConnect then transmits the electronic manifest data to CBP or CBSA and displays customs responses in a carrier-friendly workflow.

BorderConnect can also connect eManifest activity to related tools such as RNS-PARS tracking, ACE and ACI lead sheets, U.S. In-Bond Manager, QP In-Bond filing, WACM, and the eManifest API. This helps carriers manage more of the Canada-U.S. border workflow from a single system.

Why eManifests Matter

Electronic manifests reduce reliance on paper-based reporting by giving customs agencies the data before the truck arrives. This allows CBP and CBSA to validate information, identify errors, and review risk earlier in the crossing process.

Accurate eManifest data also helps carriers avoid mismatches with broker filings. For example, if a PARS or PAPS number is entered incorrectly, the driver's shipment may not match the broker's release or entry record at the border.

The driver should still carry the correct lead sheet and supporting paperwork. The eManifest sends the data electronically, while the driver's documents help the officer locate and verify the trip if needed.

References

  1. ↑ CBSA, eManifest Portal, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/manif/portal-portail-eng.html
  2. ↑ CBP, ACE and Automated Systems, https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated
  3. ↑ CBSA, ACI/eManifest Highway Portal Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/manif/eccrdhi-deccerout-eng.html
  4. ↑ CBSA, Memorandum D3-4-2: Highway pre-arrival and reporting requirements, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d3/d3-4-2-eng.html
  5. ↑ eCFR, 19 CFR 123.92 - Electronic information for truck cargo required in advance of arrival, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-19/chapter-I/part-123/section-123.92
  6. ↑ BorderConnect, ACE and ACI eManifest Portal, https://www.borderconnect.com/
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