The multi-modal subcommittee of the U.S. Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC), which included representation from the Canadian Trucking Alliance, submitted detailed recommendations to U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner on Mar. 14, 2003.

This proposal counters the recently rejected “strawman” proposal that the U.S. Customs Service (now called Customs and Border Protection Service-CBP) introduced in January.

For truckers, the most critical points are:

Carriers be allowed to report cargo date electronically within a set time before a truck arrives at the border instead of prior to loading shipments.

Carriers be allowed to use existing systems to satisfy pre-notification requirements without imposing any new systems developments.

Carriers in the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program with Canada be allowed to carry on developing their expedited reporting systems.

This distinction reflects the fact that FAST carriers have already undergone extensive security screening.

For “truck-competitive” traffic carrying intermodal shipments, carriers want the reporting period to match what is required for trucks.

The COAC is particularly concerned about the adoption of an “interim solution” in advance of the introduction of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) program beginning in early 2004.