[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15756-15757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4571]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection


Automated Commercial Environment (ACE): Ability of Truck Carriers 
To Use Third Parties To Submit Manifest Information in the Test of the 
ACE Truck Manifest System

AGENCY: Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: General notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that the Bureau of Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) will permit truck carriers who are not Automated 
Commercial Environment (ACE) Truck Carrier Accounts to use third 
parties to transmit truck manifest information on their behalf 
electronically in the ACE Truck Manifest system, via electronic data 
interchange (EDI) messaging. Truck carriers electing to use a third 
party to submit manifest information to CBP must possess a valid 
Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) from the National Motor Freight 
Traffic Association. Truck carriers who elect to use this transmission 
method will not have access to operational data and will not receive 
status messages on ACE transactions, nor will they have access to 
integrated Account data from multiple system sources. These truck 
carriers will be able to obtain release of their cargo, crew, 
conveyances, and equipment via EDI messaging back to the transmitter of 
the information. By making these changes, CBP is opening the test to 
parties previously ineligible to participate.

DATES: Effective Date: Truck carriers will be able to participate in 
ACE through the use of a third party transmitter starting on March 29, 
2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Swanson, via e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 4, 2004 and September 13, 2004, CBP published General 
Notices in the Federal Register (69 FR 55167 and 69 FR 5360) announcing 
a test, in conjunction with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration (FMCSA), allowing participating truck carriers to 
transmit electronic manifest data in ACE, including advance cargo 
information as required by section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 2002, as 
amended by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (see 68 FR 
68140). The advance cargo information requirements are detailed in the 
final rule published in the Federal Register at 68 FR 68140 on December 
5, 2003. Truck carriers participating in the test opened up Truck 
Carrier Accounts which provided them with the ability to electronically 
transmit truck manifest data and obtain release of their cargo, crew, 
conveyances, and equipment via the ACE Portal or electronic data 
interchange (EDI) messaging.

[[Page 15757]]

    In the September 13, 2004 notice, CBP stated that, in order to be 
eligible for participation in this test, a carrier must have:
    1. Submitted an application (i.e., statement of intent to establish 
an ACE Account and to participate in the testing of electronic truck 
manifest functionality) as set forth in the February 4, 2004, Federal 
Register notice (69 FR 5360);
    2. Provided a Standard Carrier Alpha Code(s) (SCAC);
    3. Provided the name, address, and e-mail of a point of contact to 
receive further information.
    In addition, participants intending to use the ACE Secure Data 
Portal as the means to file the manifest must submit a statement 
certifying the ability to connect to the Internet. Participants 
intending to use an EDI interface are required to first test their 
ability to send and receive electronic messages in either American 
National Standards Institute (ANSI) X12 or United Nations / Directories 
for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and 
Transport (UN/EDIFACT) format with CBP. The September 13, 2004 notice 
indicated that acceptance into this test does not guarantee eligibility 
for, or acceptance into, future technical tests.

Implementation

    Through this notice, CBP announces a change whereby truck carriers 
no longer have to open ACE Truck Carrier Accounts to participate in the 
ACE test. Specifically, truck carriers may elect to use a third party 
to submit electronic manifest information via EDI to CBP. Truck 
carriers participating in this fashion will not have access to 
operational data and will not receive status messages on ACE Accounts, 
nor will they have access to integrated Account data from multiple 
system sources. These truck carriers will be able to obtain release of 
their cargo, crew, conveyances, and equipment via EDI messaging back to 
the transmitter of the information.
    If the third party transmitting the truck manifest information to 
CBP does not use EDI, but instead wishes to use the ACE portal, the 
truck carrier who is submitting that information to the third party 
(for transmission to CBP) must have an ACE Truck Carrier Account as 
described in the February 4, 2004, General Notice (69 FR 5360).
    A truck carrier using a third party to transmit via EDI cargo, 
crew, conveyance and equipment information to CBP must have a Standard 
Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC). Any truck carrier with a SCAC may arrange to 
have a third party transmit manifest information to CBP via EDI 
consistent with the requirements of the ACE Truck Manifest Test.

Previous Notices Continue To Be Applicable

    All of the other aspects of the ACE Truck Manifest Test as set 
forth in the September 13, 2004, notice (69 FR 55167), as modified by 
the General Notice published in the Federal Register (70 FR 13514) on 
March 21, 2005, continue to be applicable. (The March 21, 2005 notice 
clarified that all relevant data elements are required to be submitted 
in the automated truck manifest submission.) All of the aspects of the 
February 4, 2004, notice (69 FR 5360) also continue to be applicable, 
except as revised in this notice.

    Dated: March 22, 2006.
Jayson P. Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations.
[FR Doc. E6-4571 Filed 3-28-06; 8:45 am]
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