🔖 This article is part of the BorderConnect Software User Guide

Start New ACI eManifest Page

The starting point for creating electronic manifests for submission to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Type: Software Page Region: ACI (Canada)

Overview

The Start New ACI eManifest Page in BorderConnect’s ACI eManifest software is where users begin creating a new manifest. This page captures the core trip information for the conveyance (truck and trailer) before shipments are added.

You can access this page:

From the ACI eManifests menu by selecting Start New ACI eManifest.
From the ACI eManifest Search Page by clicking the Start New ACI eManifest button.

Tip: If you select "Continue to Start New ACI Shipment Form" before saving, BorderConnect will automatically open the shipment creation page immediately after the manifest is created, speeding up your workflow.

Page Actions

The following actions are available at the top of the page:

Button	Function
Save	Creates the manifest once all required fields are completed.
Cancel	Discards entered information and returns to the ACI eManifest Search Page.
Clear	Removes all entered data from the form so new values can be entered.

Required Trip Information

The following fields establish the core ACI trip details that are transmitted to CBSA.

Field	Description
Trip Number (Conveyance Reference Number)	Unique identifier for the manifest. Must begin with a Canadian Carrier Code followed by 4 to 21 alphanumeric characters. Note: It cannot match any PARS or Cargo Control Number.
First Canadian Port of Entry	The Canadian border crossing location where the driver will enter Canada. Can be selected by city name or port code.
Estimated Arrival Date	Date the driver is expected to arrive at the border. Defaults to today. Cannot be more than 30 days in advance.
Estimated Arrival Time	Estimated time of arrival. Defaults to current time plus two hours and can be adjusted using the dropdown fields.

Best Practices for Trip Numbers

To avoid duplicates and CBSA rejections, common strategies include:

Using internal load or trip numbers.
Including the date in the sequence (e.g., 20231025-01).
Incrementing sequential numbers (0001, 0002, etc.).

Optional but Recommended Fields

These fields streamline manifest completion and may be required depending on the shipment type (e.g., In Bond).

Field	When to Use
Sub Location / Warehouse	Required for In Bond shipments or PARS loads that may fail and move in bond. Bonded carriers should always complete this field.
Quick Assign Truck	Selects an existing truck profile to attach to the manifest immediately.
Quick Assign Trailer	Selects an existing trailer profile. Additional trailers can be added later if needed.
Quick Assign Driver	Selects a driver profile. Note: Driver information is technically optional/reference-only for ACI eManifests, but recommended for record keeping.

What Happens After Saving

Once the manifest is saved, the ACI eManifest is created in BorderConnect and assigned a status.

You will be taken to either:

The ACI eManifest Details Page, where you can add shipments and review data.
The Start New ACI Shipment Page, if you selected "Continue to Shipment" before saving.

From there you can add shipments, assign equipment if not already selected, and sync the manifest to CBSA.