Descartes Teams Up with Con-way on Customs Pilot Program

Descartes Systems Group, a federated global logistics network, has announced that Con-way Freight, a North American less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, is joining the pilot phase launch of the Advance Commercial Information (ACI) Highway electronic filings with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Con-way Freight, a subsidiary of Con-way Inc., has been a leading advocate of the ACI program as an active member of Descartes’ Americas Customs Working Group, which supports the CBSA requirements outlined in the CBSA’s Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD). Con-way Freight’s leadership laid the groundwork for the development of the pilot at Descartes and provides a framework for other carriers to join the pilot, which is designed to validate operational aspects of this emerging requirement and quantify the benefits from a streamlined, electronic filing process for imports in advance of the formal regulation mandate.

On November 10, 2009, the CBSA finalized its initial regulation ECCRD for EDI Highway Cargo and Conveyance. This ACI e-Manifest initiative mandates that CBSA receive advance electronic notification of cargo shipments arriving in Canada by highway.

Descartes’ ACI Highway solutions are part of its GLN Customs Filing & Compliance suite. The GLN helps automate, manage and streamline the end-to-end shipment process, from source to consumer, with ongoing real-time visibility. Descartes’ customs filing and compliance services help companies meet regulatory requirements for international shipments for both international customs agencies and security initiatives.