TORONTO, Ont. — The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) says truckers will be able to change border crossings even after the implementation of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s ACE program.

There was initially some concern that an oversight in the development of the program would make it impossible for truckers to alter their routes, changing the border crossing they intended to use.

David Bradley, president of the OTA said the ability for truck traffic to divert from one U.S. commercial port of entry to another is essential and no more so important than the ability for U.S.-bound truck traffic to divert between Detroit or Port Huron, Mich.

Currently, truck traffic can divert from one border crossing to another without notifying Customs of the change. The option is especially useful when weather or traffic conditions make it favourable to use the alternate crossing.

OTA credits CBP in Michigan for working with the lobby group to have the issue dealt with.

“A seamless transition to the new program is expected by all parties and OTA encourages carriers to who move freight into the US to get on board with the ACE program as soon as possible to ensure they are not left behind when the program becomes mandatory,” says Bradley.

The OTA will be hosting a series of ACE seminars over the next few months to offer carriers the chance to discuss the new program with CBP.