If you are a carrier hauling freight across the US-Canada border, you have almost certainly encountered the terms ACE and ACI. Both are electronic manifest systems used by customs authorities, but they serve different countries and have different rules. Understanding the ACE vs ACI difference is essential for anyone involved in cross-border trucking, because filing the wrong manifest -- or missing one entirely -- can result in fines, delays, and refused entry.
This guide breaks down the two eManifest types, explains who needs to file what, and clarifies when you might need both.
ACE: The US System
ACE stands for Automated Commercial Environment. It is the electronic system operated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for processing all commercial goods entering the United States by highway.
Who Files ACE?
Any carrier transporting commercial goods into the US must file an ACE eManifest. This includes Canadian carriers hauling southbound loads, US carriers returning with Canadian goods, and owner-operators crossing with freight. The filing obligation falls on the carrier, not the shipper or consignee.
When to File
The ACE eManifest must be transmitted to CBP at least one hour before the truck arrives at the US port of entry. CBP recommends filing earlier to allow time for corrections if the submission is rejected or placed on hold.
Required Data Fields
An ACE eManifest includes three main components:
- Conveyance -- truck unit number, license plate, VIN, and trailer details
- Crew -- driver name, date of birth, citizenship, and travel document (FAST card, passport, or NEXUS card)
- Shipment -- shipper and consignee names and addresses, commodity description, weight, piece count, and the PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) barcode number provided by the US customs broker
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Carriers who fail to file an ACE eManifest, file late, or submit inaccurate data can face penalties from CBP. These can range from warnings for first-time offenses to fines of several thousand dollars for repeated violations. In serious cases, the truck may be denied entry entirely.
ACI: The Canadian System
ACI stands for Advance Commercial Information. It is the electronic system operated by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for processing commercial goods entering Canada by highway. The highway carrier component is commonly referred to as the ACI eManifest.
Who Files ACI?
Any carrier transporting commercial goods into Canada must file an ACI eManifest with CBSA. This includes US carriers hauling northbound loads, Canadian carriers returning with US goods, and any carrier with freight destined for Canadian delivery. As with ACE, the carrier is responsible for filing.
When to File
The ACI eManifest must be transmitted to CBSA at least one hour before the truck arrives at the Canadian port of entry. The clock starts from the time of transmission, not the time of creation, so carriers need to account for any processing delays.
Required Data Fields
An ACI eManifest also has three core components, though the specific data fields differ from ACE:
- Conveyance -- truck and trailer license plates, unit numbers, and the CBSA carrier code
- Crew -- driver name, date of birth, citizenship, and travel document details
- Shipment -- shipper and consignee information, commodity description, weight, piece count, and the PARS (Pre-Arrival Review System) number provided by the Canadian customs broker
A key difference is that CBSA requires a CBSA carrier code to file, which is separate from the SCAC code used in the US system. Carriers must register with CBSA and obtain this code before they can transmit any ACI data.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
CBSA enforces penalties through the AMPS (Administrative Monetary Penalty System). Fines for late or missing ACI eManifests can range from $2,000 to $25,000 depending on the infraction and whether it is a first offense or a repeat violation. CBSA is increasingly strict about enforcement.
Key Differences Between ACE and ACI
| Feature | ACE (US) | ACI (Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Operated by | US CBP | Canada CBSA |
| Direction | Goods entering the US | Goods entering Canada |
| Filing deadline | 1 hour before arrival | 1 hour before arrival |
| Carrier identifier | SCAC code | CBSA carrier code |
| Shipment reference | PAPS number | PARS number |
| Penalty system | CBP penalties | AMPS penalties |
| Portal | ACE Portal | CBSA eManifest Portal |
While the filing deadlines are the same, the systems are completely separate. Filing an ACE manifest does not satisfy your ACI obligation, and vice versa. Each country's customs authority only sees the data submitted to its own system.
When Do You Need Both?
If your carrier operates trucks in both directions across the border, you need to file in both systems. A Canadian carrier that hauls a load to Chicago and picks up a return load back to Toronto will need:
1. An ACE eManifest filed with CBP for the southbound trip into the US
2. An ACI eManifest filed with CBSA for the northbound return trip into Canada
Many cross-border carriers file in both systems daily. This means maintaining driver, truck, and trailer profiles in two separate government portals -- each with its own login, interface, and data format requirements.
Carriers that only run in one direction still need the appropriate single filing. A US carrier that never brings goods back into Canada only needs ACE. A Canadian carrier that only receives goods from the US only needs ACI.
Common Mistakes Carriers Make
- Confusing PARS and PAPS -- PARS is for Canadian customs (ACI), PAPS is for US customs (ACE). Using the wrong reference number will cause a rejection.
- Using the wrong carrier code -- Your SCAC code does not work in the ACI system. You need a separate CBSA carrier code for Canadian filings.
- Filing in only one system -- Carriers running round trips must file in both ACE and ACI. Missing one side creates compliance gaps.
- Assuming the same data works for both -- While the concepts are similar, the exact field requirements, validation rules, and response codes differ between the two systems.
How TruckerPro Border Handles Both Systems
Managing two separate customs portals with different logins, data formats, and filing requirements is a significant administrative burden -- especially for small and mid-sized carriers. TruckerPro Border lets you file both ACE and ACI eManifests from a single platform. Your driver, truck, and trailer profiles are entered once and reused across both systems. Preflight validation checks catch errors before submission, and real-time status tracking shows you exactly where each manifest stands with CBP or CBSA.
Whether you are filing one manifest a week or fifty a day, TruckerPro Border eliminates the need to juggle two government portals. Get started at [border.truckerpro.ca](https://border.truckerpro.ca).