Highway mode: Transmit electronic commercial data

Transmitting true, accurate and complete data

Providing true, accurate and complete ACI allows us to better process cargo and conveyance data from highway carriers and highway freight forwarders. It will also help to reduce any delays at the border.

We may use the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) to issue monetary penalties for incorrect, untrue or incomplete data. This can include such things as providing an invalid tractor or trailer license plate numbers, submitting unclear descriptions of your cargo, or not submitting data 1 hour before arrival.

Visit Detailed commodity descriptions to assist you with your cargo descriptions.

We recommend that you share with your suppliers the importance of providing true, accurate and complete data when sending ACI to the agency.

Correcting advance commercial information and important timeframes

You must send us all ACI corrections as soon as you become aware of them. This includes updating any information that is no longer true or correct, including a change to the desired port of entry (POE).

Note: Drivers cannot choose an alternate POE without updating the ACI.

Once you have sent pre-arrival data, changes do not restart the clock. Only cancelling and re-submitting a transmission restarts the clock.

If you have entered Canada and you find an error on your ACI, you can make corrections to certain data elements post arrival using the Form BSF673 House bill, cargo and conveyance manual amendment form – post arrival – all modes.

The post-arrival paper reporting (Form BSF673):

• should not be used to avoid penalties
• must only be used occasionally
• must clearly demonstrate to CBSA officers that the issue will not be a frequent occurrence

Reminder: when entering Canada in the highway mode, you must send us the ACI at least 1 hour prior to arrival at a port of entry so that we can validate the data. If you do not, you may face delays and a monetary penalty.

In case of a system outage, refer to the joint CBSA and industry system outage contingency plan.

Checking the status of your shipments

Carriers who choose to use electronic data interchange (EDI) or a service provider to send their ACI are eligible for a free eManifest Portal account.

You can see the status of your shipments by referring to the eManifest notices in your portal account.

These notices can help you comply with regulations.

Updating contact and business information

Existing carriers are obligated to notify us, without delay, of any changes to their profile information or cancellation of their carrier code, as per section 32 of the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations. Any changes must be submitted to the CBSA via the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) Client Portal.

Contact us

If you have questions or concerns related to ACI compliance activities email the Highway, Air, Freight Forwarder Carrier Compliance (HAFCC) unit at hafccu-uctraa@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

For more information on ACI, including regulations and policies, email us at emanifest-manifeste_electronique@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

For EDI or Portal issues, refer to the List of EDI/Portal services supported by the Technical Commercial Client Unit.

Related links

• Commercial reporting requirements: Highway carriers
• Electronic Data Interchange / Portal Clients (more information about eManifest notices)
• Highway carrier eligibility
• eManifest Portal
• CBSA guidelines: Highway carrier code application process