ABF Freight System Inc.Fort Smith, Ark., has become the first major carrier to cross the US/Canadian border using an electronic manifest program
developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The premiere occurred March 11 at Blaine, Wash., where the CBP is conducting a pilot program for commercial trade. Called the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the program is part of an effort to improve homeland security through an electronic cargo tracking system. The system is intended as a tool for trade enforcement as well as a means to prevent cargo from becoming an instrument of terrorism.
Implementation of ACE began in spring 2004 and is expected to be completed in 2010. ACE provides national information on cargo and simplifies communication with the trade community by automating transactions which were formerly lengthy and labor-intensive. The goal is to move goods through ports and onto markets faster and at lower cost.
ABF became the first certified ACE program participant among major LTL carriers on February 15, 2005.



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