Electronic Manifest Rules Take Effect Dec. 5

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he Department of Homeland Security said new rules requiring transportation companies to submit electronic shipping manifests with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection before being allowed to enter the United States go into effect Dec. 5, news services reported.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the rules balance the need to thwart terrorists with U.S. industry's requirement for the rapid movement of goods, Reuters said.

The amount of time needed to provide the advance manifest information varies. Some trucks will need to file only 30 minutes before arriving at the border, while ships at foreign ports must file 24 hours before goods are loaded.

American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves said in a statement that "ATA will continue to work with both DHS and CBP to ensure that this rule is successfully implemented."

However, he also said ATA was concerned over how Customs "intends to communicate directly and in a timely fashion with motor carriers and their drivers, giving them the OK to proceed to a port of entry once their cargo has been cleared."

Ridge said shippers who do not cooperate with the new rules could be fined or have their freight turned back at the border.

(Click here for ATA’s full statement.)