L4 Logistics | Transport Shipping and Logistics News

UPS piloted the new system, called Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). ACE is part of CBP’s multi-year modernisation effort that automates the flow of information about packages approaching US borders in trucks, making it easier for customs agents to decide what they wish to inspect. UPS worked with CBP to pilot the program in Blaine, Washington, the first land port to transition to the new system. As part of the ACE program, an electronic manifest for trucks was introduced in Blaine last December to replace a paper-based process. "Since UPS moves hundreds of shipments across the border at that port every business day, a significant amount of paperwork was required under the old system,” said David Barnes, senior vice president and chief information officer of UPS. “ACE changes all that, totally automating the truck manifest process.” With the new ACE system, UPS not only provides CBP with shipment information electronically through an EDI connection, it also provides information on the vehicle and the UPS driver. CBP can quickly verify the legitimacy of vehicles and drivers as well as run the shipping data through electronic filters to make inspection selections. These selections can be determined before a shipment reaches the border. Goods not selected for inspection and that comply with US laws can be expedited. UPS worked closely with CBP during the pilot to test the system, successfully sending the first electronic truck manifest last February. UPS now is working with CBP to deploy ACE at all eleven of its land port operations. The ACE system will be deployed to every land, sea and air port of entry where CBP has a presence over the next five years. CBP has not yet deployed ACE for air transportation. But in 2002, UPS implemented a software program it developed called Target Search to assist the CBP officials inspecting shipments coming through Worldport, UPS's largest international air hub in Louisville. Like the ACE system, Target Search provides electronic information to CBP officials so that they can effectively target and select shipments for inspection ahead of time, expediting the customs clearance process. (Source: press)