Guide · Canada and United States

Commercial trucks at the Canada-US border: eManifest, ACE, FAST and CDRP

General information, not official or legal advice. Customs, immigration and border rules change and every situation is different. Check the linked official sources and the agency’s current page before you travel. This site is not affiliated with CBP, the CBSA, DHS or any government.

Steps

1. Canada-bound: the CBSA says carriers and freight forwarders must enrol for a carrier code and that highway carriers send advance commercial information electronically. Requirements depend on the shipment; confirm with the CBSA or a licensed customs broker.^[1]
2. US-bound: CBP says importers and exporters must use ACE and its portal to provide detailed information.^[2]
3. CBP says FAST requires every link in the supply chain to be CTPAT-certified; the CBSA lists a US$50 non-refundable driver fee on a page dated 2021, and the CBP page we read lists no fee.^[3][4]
4. Commercial processing hours: the CBSA publishes a Directory of Offices and Services and CBP a Locate a Port of Entry page; CBP's wait-time feed carries each port's hours.^[5][6][8]
5. For commercial delays, the wait-time feeds carry a commercial flow figure; read it with the same caution as passenger figures.^[7][8]

Canada: advance commercial information and eManifest

The CBSA's eManifest page says trade-chain businesses that transport or store commercial goods need to report accurate information about these goods so the CBSA can process shipments efficiently. Carriers, sufferance warehouse operators and freight forwarders are directed to what to report and how to submit data via EDI and the eManifest Portal. Its topics include commercial reporting by client type, getting a CBSA-issued carrier code, highway mode transmission of electronic commercial data, the eManifest Portal shared-secret application, detailed commodity descriptions, the administrative monetary penalty system and offloading goods during highway examinations.^[1] Page links also mention flying trucks (air cargo moved by highway carrier) and system outages.^[1]

The page also carries a notice that the Government of Canada has imposed counter-tariffs on certain goods from the US from 2026-09-08 and that the CBSA has published guidance for importers.^[1][10]

United States: ACE

CBP says ACE is the US centralized digital system for processing imports and exports and is also known as the US "Single Window". To move goods across the border CBP and partner government agencies require importers and exporters to use ACE to provide detailed information, enabling CBP to collect tariff revenue, control imports and enforce regulations. Its page describes the ACE Secure Data Portal as a web-based entry point, ACE Reports, and technical resources such as CATAIR and CAMIR, and a Cargo Systems Messaging Service for updates.^[2] The page we read does not walk through truck-specific manifest steps, so this guide does not either.

FAST

CBP describes FAST as a commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the US from Canada and Mexico, allowing expedited processing for carriers who have completed background checks and meet eligibility requirements. FAST enrollment is open to truck drivers from the US, Canada and Mexico; FAST lanes are at land border ports serving commercial cargo, mostly in Michigan, New York and Washington and at southern ports from California to Texas. Participation requires that every link in the supply chain, from manufacturer to carrier to driver to importer, is certified under CTPAT.^[3]

The CBSA's FAST page (dated 2021-11-15) lists benefits including dedicated lanes where available and minimal documentation, lists dedicated FAST lanes at Sarnia/Port Huron, Pacific Highway/Blaine, Fort Erie, Emerson and Windsor/Detroit, says the driver card is valid five years and the non-refundable driver fee is US$50, with no fee for carriers or importers, and that Canadian or US citizens can use a FAST card as proof of identity and citizenship in all highway lanes entering Canada.^[4] The CBP FAQ lists harmonised $120 fees for some programs; it does not list the FAST fee in the portion we read, so use the CBSA figure with the page date in mind and verify at application.^[11]

CDRP has ended

The CBSA's Commercial Driver Registration Program page says you can no longer apply, the program has ended, and drivers should apply to FAST to maintain Trusted Trader benefits; CDRP cards remain valid until expiry.^[9]

NEXUS and commercial goods

NEXUS members may not use NEXUS with commercial goods; the CBSA says commercial goods include goods brought in for sale or any commercial, industrial, occupational or institutional use, including samples, tools and warranty repair parts. Personal computers for personal use on a business trip are not commercial goods.^[12]

What we did not find

We did not find, among the pages read, official step-by-step eManifest data element lists for CBSA or ACE truck manifest requirements for CBP; use the portals and each agency's technical documents. The CBSA eManifest page lists a "Contact client support" section for general inquiries, technical support, client registration and eManifest presentations.^[1] Requirements depend on the shipment; goods admissibility, tariffs and penalties are decided by the agencies, and licensed customs brokers can advise.

About this guide

Officers decide at the border; this is general information, not official guidance. travel.tnaado.ca is not affiliated with CBP, CBSA, DHS or the Government of Canada.