TORONTO, Ont. — CrimsonLogic, an international IT solutions provider, has announced that it has been selected by Sharp Transportation Systems to provide web-based connectivity into the U.S. Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). CrimsonLogic was the first Canadian service provider to be accredited by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to comply with ACE requirements in July.

ACE, which will become mandatory for the trucking community at all 91 border crossings in 2006, is designed to provide national processing and tracking and is intended to be a key element for trade enforcement and preventing cargo from becoming tools of terrorism. It will require submission of highway carrier manifests one hour or 30 minutes (for FAST shipments) to CBP in advance of the arrival of the truck at the U.S. border or face being turned away or fined.

Sharp Transportation Systems calls itself a highly efficient “blanket wrap” carrier operating in the continental U.S. and Canada. Officials say the collaboration with CrimsonLogic will help Sharp meet the requirement to electronically file manifest details at least one hour before the arrival of the truck at the first port of entry going into the U.S.

“The CrimsonLogic ACE system is a comprehensive, user-friendly and fully web-based system that provides the flexibility to allow data integration and customization of workflows,” said Shawn Baird, president of Sharp Transportation. “By being ready for ACE, our customers will enjoy an added measure of confidence knowing that their cargo will be appropriately cleared and ready to enter the U.S. before reaching the border, minimizing any delays and adding a level of security and efficiency in our operations.”

Sharp Transportation Systems is a FAST and C-TPAT certified carrier under the rules and regulations governing the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program and also was one of the first over the road transport carriers to be certified under the Canada Customs CSA/FAST program.

“We are excited with this new collaboration with Sharp Transportation, and will continue to provide our clients with secure and seamless connectivity as ACE expands and becomes the only method of pre-notification before arriving in the U.S.,” said James May, business development manager of CrimsonLogic.