WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an information notice to trucking carriers and drivers advising them of the proper e-manifest documentation that must accompany truckers to the border under Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) rules.

ACE, a streamlined release systems protocol, mandated by the Trade Act for transmission of electronic manifest data the ACE Portal or electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging, is being deployed to all land border ports throughout 2006. This allows for single screen processing for all primary and secondary processing functions, says CBP.

After successfully transmitting an e-manifest, carriers or their brokers should prepare and provide the driver either a CBP Form 7533 (Inward Cargo Manifest) or a cover sheet printed on plain paper, says CBP.

These documents should be annotated with the following minimum information in at least 22-point type:

ACE Electronic Manifest should be printed on document; Trip number and Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC), plus unique identification number for trip should be clearly labeled as “trip number” and must be in text. (Note: this is not the shipment control number or Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS) number).

Also: the driver’s name; truck license plate (must be the one that is transmitted to CBP). In addition the following data elements may be added in smaller letters (12 point type maximum): Shipment Control Number (SCN); Shipment description for each SCN.

CBP clearly warns that PAPS barcode labels are not to be placed on any forms to be handed to Customs agents at primary booths.

“If invoices and PAPS bar-coded manifests are provided to the driver they should remain in the driver’s control and not be given to CBP except upon request,” states the notice. “CBP officers will use these documents for CBP system downtime or validation/examination of shipments.”

Free and Secure Trade (FAST) manifest cover sheets will continue to be used for FAST shipments.