ACI Emanifest implementation ( Mandantory as of Nov 1/12) - How are you handling it?

[itsatkatmeow]

I'm the Secretary/Admin Assistant at a Canadian trucking company that also deals with all of the customs.
I've been Testing out the ACI Emanifest with a few of my guys (last shipment finally worked)

At this point, almost all of our drivers send off their PARS and check on the shipment themselves (which is great) although, obviously that luxury is going to run out for me!

The ACI for me personally is going to increase my workload by a lot, and i feel like im running out of time to get everyone trained and ready to go.

My biggest worry is about getting the paperwork to the guys ( a lot of the places we p/u at don't like us faxing out paperwork/or receiving paperwork)
My best idea was to find the nearest truck stop before each border crossing and send it there

I was just wondering how your company is dealing with implementing the ACI emanifest requirements?
It'd be really nice to hear what others are doing about it, or any ideas that may help me implement it in our small company

Thanks in advance for any responses!

[Prairie Boy]

How about communication equipment in the truck to make it easier. I Have one fellow that has a $128.00 scanner that includes the software plus a small printer that he can use to print out documents including oversized permits that are emailed to him.

[itsatkatmeow]

Thats a fantastic idea, seems we're going to be forced to electronic at some point anyways
Any chance you know that brand name etc for that scanner?

[not4hire]

I have a laptop, scanner/copier/printer, plug-in inverter and smartphone in my truck. The HP multi-function printer cost me about $35 (on sale) at Walmart, but that kind of deal seems to be available at almost any time at Walmart, Best Buy, Future Shop, Staples, etc.

When I was running into the U.S. up to a couple of years ago (I'm strictly domestic now); for north-bound loads I would scan the BoLs and PARS and email to the broker directly (could have sent it to the carrier office, but all they would do is forward it to the broker, so I skipped the middle-man). For south-bound loads, my dispatcher took care of the ACE manifest and forwarded it to me via email (which I can read/display on my phone) and the release number (IIRC, the release number is all that is required, or does the driver have to have a hard-copy?) via text.

For connectivity to send/receive documents that need to be scanned/printed I either use a wifi connection at a hotel, or coffee shop, etc., or tether to my phone.

[gokiddogo]

My setup:
US smartphone. Can tether laptop to it.
For Canada: Mobile hotspot from Telus for $35 a month. Can tether phone and laptop while in Canada.
Online fax service delivers faxes directly to my e-mail. Online fax service $110 a year for more pages than I will ever need, myfax.com My e-mail always comes up right at it is received to my phone. The laptop can send to my Epson WorkForce printer and scanner. I carry extra ink in the truck because when it gets low it will just quit and demand new ink. Changing it is easy.

Going to USA. Scan and e-mail in invoices to ACE setup company. They e-mail back with ACE sheet. Print it off good to go.

Return to Canada: Same process. Pars your invoice, send to same ACE company (also do ACI) and they e-mail you paper just like ACE going to usa. Give to border guard. Scan, no stamp, good to go. Keep that ACI paper for your records (replaces pars stamps). If border guard keeps it, print it off again. That is what canada customs will want to see for proof of goods into country. As for what is entered into the system by the company I have hired to make my ACE and ACI papers, I have on clue how that works. That's why I pay them.

Good to see people getting on it before November deadline. It's going to be a scramble at the border for everyone who has left it to the last minute and doesn't know how the new system works.