The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has announced that its pilot program to process imports at the port of Blaine, WA, for the Automated Commercial Environment’s (ACE) commercial truck processing capabilities is back up.
The initial pilot was suspended after three weeks of testing to resolve technical issues to improve system response times and to install software upgrades.
Mount Vernon, WA-based trucking company Brownline Inc., which filed the first two e-manifests, said the ACE pilot program is off to a good start.
“It’s in a test mode and the software still needs some fine-tuning, but right now it’s graet for a carrier who has simple manifests,” said Brownline’s gm, Steven McQueary. “Instead of relying on a paper manifest scribbled by a truck driver crumpled up in the truck, the e-manifest takes a huge burden off the driver and carrier both, with more accurate data.”
The 2002 Trade Act required advance electronic manifests on all cargo entering or leaving the U.S. by air, rail, sea, or truck. Truck carriers are encouraged to establish ACE truck carrier accounts and become certified to use the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) messaging system for electronic truck manifests to ensure smooth border operations when these capabilities are eventually mandated.
