Customs City Blog

eManifest & Customs Compliance News

PAPS Numbers Need to Match to Entry Numbers Before Crossing the Border

When transporting cargo into the US, there is usually one important thing that the highway carrier needs to confirm before crossing the border.  Is there an entry number matching to my PAPS number? PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) is known to trucking companies as those bar-coded stickers that are placed on

ACE Import Manifest Documentation Types

There are as many ACE Import Manifest Documentation tyes as there are modes of transport. The documentation for the various modes of transport are transmitted through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).  ACE is the Single Window System used by CBP (Customs & Border Protection) ACE Air eManifest (AMS Air Manifest)

Data You Need to Send to CBP to Participate in the Section 321 Data Pilot

Who is Currently Participating? Participation in the CBP Section 321 Data Pilot is currently limited to 9 participants.  These nine participants were selected and approved by CBP to allow for a variety of industry participation (online marketplaces, carriers, freight forwarders and fulfillment centers.) The section 321 data pilot is a

What are Truck Section 321 Shipment Requirements?

Highway carriers are hearing more and more from their customers today that they want to move e-commerce shipments from Canada or Mexico into the USA using section 321 because their customers want to save paying duty & tax on their shipments.  The use of entry type section 321 has dramatically

CBP Section 321 Data Pilot for E-Commerce Shipments

What is the Section 321 Data Pilot? Section 321 Data Pilot refers to a voluntary study by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The pilot study began on August 22, 2019 and is expected to run for a year. During the test period participants will electronically transmit cargo information

Uploading Section 321 Shipment Data Using JSON, XML or CSV

Section 321 is a shipment type used in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ACE system that allows low-value shipments of <=$800 USD to be cleared through the border without paying duty or tax. To qualify for Section 321 shipment type any goods being imported into the US should not

What is a CFS (Container Freight Station)?

A Container Freight Station refers to a facility that consolidates or de-consolidates freight before preparing such freight for the next leg of its journey. Most CFS will be located close to ports of entry such as airports, ocean container ports and major railway hubs.  In the US, a CFS is

Improve Customs Compliance using eManifest Software

Every carrier (including ocean, highway and air)  entering the United States or Canda has to complete an electronic eManifest. Otherwise, the authorities (CBP or CBSA) will force the carrier to go back immediately when it arrives at the border (or even before loading the cargo at the foreign port as

What are the CBP Downtime Procedures for Trucking Companies?

Customs & Border Protection (CBP), ACE eManifest, and the Automated Commercial Environment are very well-developed organizations and systems. But regardless of how well designed an organization or system is, there will come a time when you will experience some downtime. In the CBP system with so many dependencies, there can be