Assessing Impact of Automated Commercial Environment Truck e-Manifest

Sources estimate that 25 percent of the U.S. GDP is associated with international trade, a figure that is expected to grow in the near future. Due to this likely increase in trade, the number of trucks entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico is expected to increase considerably. In light of this, the federal government is tasked with managing the competing objectives of maximizing economic vitality and ensuring the security and integrity of U.S. borders. In order to reach these goals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) developed the ACE Truck e-Manifest which intends to manage rival goals by allowing motor carriers to submit electronic versions of mandated paperwork in advance of the truck physically crossing the border. American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently worked with CBP to conduct an analytical assessment of the productivity and efficiency impacts of the ACE Truck e-Manifest through surveys, site visits and interviews to determine impacts on motor carrier operations. The results show a more efficient border crossing process for carriers using e-Manifests. However, workload and costs for those carriers have increased. Although initial start-up costs are considerable for many carriers, e-Manifests can potentially provide net operational benefits for medium and large carriers.