Is ACI emanifest required for empty conveyances?

Is ACI emanifest required for empty conveyances?

Highway carriers who arrive at the First Port of Arrival (FPOA) with empty conveyances (with no specified goods on board), and who have not transmitted ACI data will not, for an appropriate period receive any Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) penalties for failing to transmit ACI for that empty conveyance. 

During this period, carriers arriving with no specified goods will be exempt from the mandatory provision of pre-arrival information.

Highway carriers, who are unable to electronically transmit ACI data for empty conveyances, will be required to continue to verbally report empty conveyances at the FPOA.

The CBSA encourages highway carriers to transmit electronic conveyance data for empty conveyances. If, due to logistical constraints carriers are unable to provide the driver of the empty conveyance with the required bar-coded lead sheet to report the conveyance, the following process will be accepted by the CBSA:

  • (a) Carriers may transmit multiple conveyance reports in advance, and maintain a supply of pre-printed lead sheets in company conveyances. Conveyance reports transmitted to CBSA remain valid for a period of up to 90 days in advance of arrival.
  • (b) When it is determined that a conveyance will be returning to Canada empty, the carrier will send a correction (pre-arrival change) to one of the conveyance reports already transmitted, with the correct data for that conveyance.
  • (c) The driver will present that lead sheet to the CBSA at the time of arrival.