CBP Testing New Electronic Truck Driver Export System That May Impact Eagle Pass Port of Entry

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

A new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program testing how commercial trucks report exports before crossing into Mexico could eventually have a direct impact on international trade moving through Eagle Pass and International Bridge II.

CBP announced last week that it will launch an Electronic Export Manifest for Truck Cargo Test through its Automated Commercial Environment commonly known as ACE.

The voluntary test is scheduled to begin October 23 and operate for approximately two years. It will initially be limited to nine participating truck carriers.

While CBP has not announced that Eagle Pass will be among the initial ports participating in the test the program is particularly relevant to border communities such as Eagle Pass where commercial trucks cross daily between the United States and Mexico.

Under the test participating trucking companies will electronically provide CBP with seven initial pieces of information about export cargo at least 24 hours before the truck departs the United States.

A complete electronic export manifest must then be submitted no later than two hours before the truck arrives at its final U.S. port of export.

That represents a significant change from current procedures.
Under existing federal regulations truck carriers generally are not required to submit an export cargo manifest. Instead the U.S. Principal Party in Interest or its authorized agent generally files required Electronic Export Information through ACE no later than one hour before the truck arrives at the U.S. border.

For the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras trade corridor implementation of such a system could eventually change how trucking companies exporters freight operators and other businesses prepare commercial shipments before trucks reach International Bridge II.

The initial information required 24 hours in advance includes the bill of lading number cargo quantity total weight a precise description of the cargo shipper information consignee information and applicable Automated Export System exemption information.

The complete electronic manifest contains considerably more information.

CBP will require information including the driver’s identification U.S. port of export foreign port where goods will be unloaded truck VIN or license plate information estimated departure date whether the truck is loaded or empty cargo description quantity and weight.

For shipments headed into Mexico the Mexican pedimento number is also listed as a conditional data element when applicable.

Of particular interest along the Eagle Pass border is that the electronic manifest system also accounts for empty commercial trucks.

CBP’s notice specifically includes an empty or loaded status code among the information to be submitted and states that the manifest data requirements apply to shipments including empty trucks.

CBP says receiving information earlier will allow the agency to better identify potentially high-risk shipments before they reach the international border and when possible before cargo is even loaded onto a truck.

Cargo identified as potentially high-risk could be placed on hold until additional information is provided an inspection is completed or another required action is taken.

CBP believes earlier screening could ultimately reduce inspections after trucks have already been loaded decrease delays at international borders and facilitate the movement of legitimate commercial cargo between the United States Mexico and Canada.

The initial test does not mean every commercial truck crossing through Eagle Pass will suddenly be subject to the new 24-hour requirement.

CBP said implementation will occur on a case-by-case basis with participating carriers and could initially be limited to only one or a small number of ports while operational training and technical issues are addressed.

However what happens after the approximately two-year test could be far more significant for Eagle Pass.

CBP states that after sufficient analysis of the program the agency intends to begin the federal rulemaking process to require electronic export manifest information before cargo is loaded onto trucks for international truck shipments leaving the United States.

If ultimately implemented nationwide that requirement would affect major land ports of entry along the Mexican border and could become part of the everyday commercial export process for trucks traveling through the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras international trade corridor.

For Eagle Pass where International Bridge II serves as the city’s principal commercial crossing the federal test is something local trucking companies customs brokers exporters and international trade officials may want to follow closely.

Although the test will begin with only nine carriers its impact could eventually reach border communities like Eagle Pass. If CBP moves forward with making the system permanent the new requirements could become part of the daily routine for commercial trucks crossing International Bridge II into Piedras Negras and change how export traffic is processed along one of the region’s most important international trade routes.