The Descartes Systems Group has released a new set of services on its Global Logistics Network (GLN) aimed at helping truckers and freight forwarders to file electronic truck manifests in compliance with US Customs & Border Protection's (CBP's) new e-Manifest initiative through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
The e-Manifest initiative will require truck carriers and freight forwarders to provide CBP with electronic shipment, carrier and other information through ACE prior to the truck entering the US. The long anticipated ACE requirements will become mandatory on a port-by-port basis as quickly as 90 days after the rules are printed in a federal registry notice.
On October 5th, CBP indicated that e-Manifest would become mandatory at the first of the 98 land-based ports in 2007, but encouraged truck carriers to begin to file earlier with those of the 49 ports that are already ACE-enabled.
Descartes' ACE services range from converting paper-based information into electronic manifests for those carriers with minimal technology infrastructure, through to an interactive ACE-compliant application automatically populated with information from back-office systems for those carriers with a more sophisticated infrastructure.
Descartes enhanced the cross-border services available over its Global Logistics Network with its acquisitions of ViaSafe in April and Flagship Customs Services (FCS) in June. Descartes said that ViaSafe's ViaTrade service and FCS' Import 2000 technology are now integrated with its Global Logistics Network, enabling Descartes customers to access a customs compliance solution in advance of the e-Manifest initiative becoming mandatory
