WASHINGTON — The number of electronic manifests (e-Manifests) filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) dramatically increased in the second quarter of 2006 by nearly 600 percent.

As of April 2006, CBP was receiving approximately 1,000 e-Manifests per month. In the second week of July, the number jumped to more than double. Nearly 7,000 total e-Manifests were filed in July.

17,000 e-manifests have been filed with CBP to date

The Truck E-Manifest, part of the Agency’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) program, enables motor carriers and shippers to electronically submit manifests to CBP prior to arrival at U.S. land border crossings to reduce processing time and allow for online tracking of shipments.

“This significant growth shows the trade community is beginning to see the benefits of using e-Manifests, which will make the transition to the upcoming mandatory policy that much easier,” said Cargo Systems Program Office (CSPO) Executive Director Louis Samenfink. “Truck carriers are encouraged to begin using e-Manifests now to avoid the rush when it becomes mandatory.”

Submitting e-Manifests through the ACE Secure Data Portal, or through a certified Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) will be required at ACE-ready U.S. ports of entry this fall.

More than 17 percent of shipments at ports utilizing ACE are processed via e-Manifest, and 75 percent of truck cargo entering the U.S. now passes through an ACE land border port. The e-Manifest feature is available at all 44 ACE ports.

To date, nearly 17,000 e-Manifests have been filed, and more than 300 companies are certified to submit e-manifests via EDI.

CBP expects to have the mandatory e-Manifest policy in effect at all land border ports by the end of 2007.

Eventually, ACE will become the lead system at all ports for all modes of transportation, with ACE Sea and rail processing slated to begin in 2008.