Mandatory electronic truck manifest kicks in as e-filings increase

Mandatory electronic truck manifest kicks in as e-filings increase Truck carriers electronically filed more than 20,000 manifests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in December, a 65 percent increase from the 13,000 submitted that way in September, the agency said.
   Since the pilot program began in 2005, CBP has received more than 100,000 electronic shipment statements, although the number is a fraction of the overall cross-border truck traffic.
   In 2007, truckers will be required to file their manifests for security checks by electronic means rather than faxing paper documents two hours prior to arrival at the border, as is currently required.
   'The increase in e-manifest filings tells us our outreach efforts are paying off,' said Lou Samenfink, Cargo Systems Program Office executive director. 'We expect filing numbers to keep rising as more companies switch to e-manifests in anticipation of CBP's mandatory e-manifest policy rollout beginning Jan. 25.'
   Mandatory e-manifest begins today under a phased rollout for truckers entering the United States through land ports in Washington, Arizona and the North Dakota ports of Pembina, Neche, Walhalla, Maida, Hannah, Sarles and Hansboro.
   CBP also announced in the Federal Register last week that mandatory use of the e-manifest rule would begin in 90 days at border crossings in California, Texas and New Mexico.
   During the informed compliance period, CBP officers working in primary lanes at the designated land border ports will provide an informed compliance notice to the driver of any truck that fails to meet the requirement.
   In phase 2, CBP will deny entry to any carrier that arrives without submitting or attempting to submit an e-manifest at land border ports where e-manifest submissions are required.
   In phase 3, CBP will deny entry to any carrier, entering at land border ports that require submissions of e-manifests. During this phase, a monetary penalty may be issued for egregious violations.
   The e-manifest system, part of the Automated Commercial Environment computer system under development, is designed to allow customs officers to pre-screen cargo and speed up the entry process by providing multiple cargo release programs on a single screen.