TORONTO, Ont. — The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has given a nod of approval to the informed compliance stage of ACE enforcement which began yesterday at Michigan and New York border crossings.

The informed compliance period will last 60 days and can be extended if operational issues arise. During the informed compliance stage, non-compliant drivers will be issued a verbal warning.

The Ontario Trucking Associations Board of Directors has taken the position that CBP should proceed with their phased-in enforcement of the program provided there are no major technical issues that would prevent widespread use of the program. OTA in full cooperation with CBP have conducted several seminars, working groups, conference calls and outreach events over the past 3 years to work through the operational challenges of ACE and to educate the industry on compliance requirements, said David Bradley, president of the OTA.

Phase 2 of ACE enforcement is slated to kick in July 23 at which time CBP will deny a permit to proceed into the US if a carrier has failed to submit an eManifest. Drivers are urged to carry an ACE eManifest cover sheet to prove an attempt was made to send the eManifest in advance, the OTA advises. CBP has announced its officers may accept a cover sheet as proof of an attempted submission and the agency also plans to have a way to verify transmission attempts by carriers.

Phase 3 is slated to begin Aug. 23. During this phase, CBP will deny a permit to proceed into the US for any truck that has failed to successfully submit an eManifest. A $5,000 penalty for a first offence may be issued to the driver in care of the carrier if he or she shows up at the border unprepared and if the carrier is deemed to have made no attempt to comply with ACE.