The Canadian Trucking Alliance has informed Canada Customs and Border Agency that member carriers are still experiencing difficulties and delays with the ACI eManifest program since the beginning of the informed compliance period, which took effect on Nov. 1.
EManifest is the third phase of the Advance Commercial Information program, an electronic data and information management program which has been under development since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. The goal of the program is to strengthen border security while reducing wait times for trucks hauling low-risk cargo. It affects carriers on both sides of the border.
With the implementation of eManifest, the CBSA must receive and validate highway carriers' electronic cargo and conveyance data a minimum of one hour before shipments arrive at the border.
In a letter to the Canada Border Services Agency directorship, CTA Senior VP Stephen Laskowski characterized the problems as above and beyond what could reasonably be attributed to learning curve issues, which are adding costs to carriers.
"It is clear from feedback and complaints from CTA members that there is a significant lack of consistency among border service officers in the level of knowledge and application of ACI policies," wrote Laskowski, who added CTA receives reports daily from carriers across Canada who say they have been held up for hours and in cases, days, due to confusion over ACI policies at the port level.
In addition, carriers report that some border service officers are telling truck drivers that ACI isn't being implemented until May 2013. "I'm sure you can appreciate the damage and confusion this this sort of messaging does to industry support of the initiative," says Laskowski.
Deanna Pagnan, CTA director of Policy & Government Relations, notes that carriers have made significant technological and training investments to accommodate ACI.
"The experiences of many carriers is causing them to question the value of those investments and of the ACI initiative as a whole," Pagnan says. "If these problems experienced at the port level are not corrected in a very timely manner, CBSA will lose the support of carriers and many may revert back to paper processes until May 2013 to save time, money and operational headaches."
CTA says it is prepared to continue working with CBSA to facilitate smooth ACI implementation and to overcome these ongoing challenges with ACI.
Related Story:
10/18/2012 Canada Rolls Out eManifest
Canadian Carriers Report Trouble with eManifest
The Canadian Trucking Alliance has informed Canada Customs and Border Agency that member carriers are still experiencing difficulties and delays with the ACI eManifest program since the beginning of the informed compliance period, which took effect on Nov. 1
More Equipment

Mack Unveils EPA 2027-Compliant MP13 Engine With More Power, Better Fuel Economy
Along with unveiling its EPA 2027-compliant MP13 engine, Mack outlined powertrain changes across its Class 6-8 lineup, including new Cummins-based X10 engines.
Read More →
Kodiak and Roehl Transport Launch Autonomous Route Between Dallas and Houston
Kodiak AI and Roehl Transport have begun autonomous freight operations on a regular Dallas-Houston route, marking another step toward Kodiak’s planned driverless launch by the end of 2026.
Read More →
Autonomous Trucks at ACT Expo 2026
Autonomous trucks commanded a lot of attention from attendees at ACT Expo this year. Check out this photo gallery.
Read More →
How Volvo’s New D13 Engine Meets EPA 2027 Emissions Without Sacrificing Power or Fuel Efficiency
Volvo says advances in combustion and aftertreatment helped its new EPA 2027 D13 engine avoid the fuel-economy penalties many once expected from tighter NOx emissions limits.
Read More →
Fleet Advantage TLDI Highlights Rising Costs of Aging Fleet Equipment Amid Higher Diesel Prices
Fleet Advantage’s latest Truck Life Cycle Data Index shows fleets operating older Class 8 trucks could face significantly higher costs as diesel prices rise, while newer 2028 equipment may deliver savings of more than $12,000 per truck annually.
Read More →
'TCO’s Here.' Tesla Says Electric Semi Economics Are Ready for the Mainstream
Tesla’s Semi chief at ACT Expo outlined production growth, lower-cost models, charging expansion, and why the company believes fleets are leaving money on the table by waiting on electric trucks.
Read More →
Mack Trucks Debuts Mack ImpactShield Windshield Technology on All-new Mack Granite and Expanded New Truck Lineup
Mack Trucks is introducing ImpactShield, the first Class 8 truck windshield to use Corning Fusion5 Glass, designed to improve durability, reduce damage and help fleets minimize downtime.
Read More →
Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Aurora Begin Dallas - Oklahoma City Route
Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Aurora expand their freight network with a new Dallas–Oklahoma City route, moving closer to scaled driverless operations.
Read More →
New High-Horsepower Natural Gas Engine Could Expand Fleet Options
Westport and Volvo are demonstrating a 500-hp truck with diesel-like efficiency — one that also offers what Westport says is a better pathway to using hydrogen fuel in trucks.
Read More →
Hirschbach Announces Plan to Deploy 500 Aurora Autonomous Trucks
Hirschbach and Aurora Innovation have inked a non-binding deal outlining a path to deploy 500 Aurora Driver-powered trucks into fleet operations.
Read More →
