United Parcel Service said yesterday that it has become one of the first transportation carriers to deploy a trade processing system created by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that improves cross-border commerce while boosting security at the country's borders.
The Automated Commercial Environment is part of a multiyear modernization push by the government agency that automates the flow of information about packages nearing the U.S. borders in trucks. This makes it easier for customs agents to choose which trucks they want to inspect.
UPS worked with the agency to pilot the program in Blaine, WA, which is the first land port to switch to the system.
Instead of paper manifests, the carrier sends the shipment information electronically through an EDI connection to Customs and Border Protection, along with data on the vehicle and the UPS driver.
