The Gordie Howe International Bridge gives Windsor-Detroit carriers a modern, lower-cost crossing — but a new bridge does not come with new customs shortcuts. Every commercial truck that crosses it still has to file an advance electronic manifest with the right agency, in the right direction, on time. This guide walks through exactly what you need to file to cross the Gordie Howe Bridge legally, whether you are heading south into Detroit or north into Windsor.
Sorting the toll first? Use the Gordie Howe Bridge Toll Calculator — then come back for the customs side, because the toll and the manifest are two completely separate obligations.
The Toll and the eManifest Are Not the Same Thing
This trips up new cross-border drivers constantly, so it is worth stating plainly: paying the toll does not clear you through customs. The toll is a fee to use the bridge structure. The eManifest is an advance customs filing that tells the border agency what is on your truck before you arrive. You owe both, every crossing, and they are handled by entirely different parties.
Southbound Into the US: File ACE
If you are crossing the Gordie Howe International Bridge from Windsor into Detroit — entering the United States — you must file a CBP ACE eManifest.
ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) is US Customs and Border Protection's system for processing commercial highway shipments. Key requirements:
- Who files: the carrier, not the shipper or consignee.
- Deadline: the ACE eManifest must be transmitted to CBP at least one hour before the truck reaches the US port of entry.
- Reference number: each shipment needs a PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) barcode, provided by your US customs broker.
- Data required: conveyance details (truck unit, plate, VIN, trailer), crew details (driver name, date of birth, citizenship, travel document such as a FAST card, passport, or enhanced licence), and shipment details (shipper/consignee, commodity, weight, piece count, PAPS number).
File late, fail to file, or submit inaccurate data and CBP can issue penalties or deny entry outright. Learn more on our ACE eManifest service page.
Northbound Into Canada: File ACI
If you are crossing from Detroit into Windsor — entering Canada — you must file a CBSA ACI eManifest.
ACI (Advance Commercial Information) is the Canada Border Services Agency's highway eManifest system. Key requirements:
- Who files: again, the carrier.
- Deadline: the ACI eManifest must be transmitted to CBSA at least one hour before arrival at the Canadian port of entry.
- Reference number: each shipment needs a PARS (Pre-Arrival Review System) number from your Canadian customs broker.
- Carrier code: you must hold a valid CBSA carrier code — this is separate from the US SCAC code and must be obtained before you can transmit any ACI data.
- Data required: conveyance (truck/trailer plates, unit numbers, carrier code), crew (driver name, date of birth, citizenship, travel document), and shipment (shipper/consignee, commodity, weight, piece count, PARS number).
CBSA enforces compliance through AMPS (the Administrative Monetary Penalty System). Fines for late or missing ACI eManifests can run from $2,000 to $25,000 depending on severity and history. More on our ACI eManifest service page.
Running Round Trips? You File Both
Most Windsor-Detroit carriers run in both directions, which means filing in both systems. A truck that hauls a load into Detroit and returns with a Canadian-bound load needs an ACE eManifest for the southbound trip and an ACI eManifest for the northbound trip. Filing ACE does not satisfy your ACI obligation, and vice versa — each agency only sees the data submitted to its own system.
Do not confuse the two reference numbers, either: PARS is Canadian (ACI); PAPS is American (ACE). Using the wrong one causes a rejection at the worst possible moment — with your driver already at the plaza.
A Practical Pre-Crossing Checklist
Before a driver approaches the Gordie Howe Bridge, confirm:
- The correct eManifest (ACE southbound, ACI northbound) is filed and accepted — not just submitted.
- It was transmitted at least one hour before expected arrival.
- The correct PAPS (US) or PARS (Canada) number is attached to each shipment.
- Driver travel documents are current and match the crew data on file.
- For ACI, the CBSA carrier code is valid and on the manifest.
- Any post-filing changes (added stops, weight changes) have been amended before arrival.
Miss any of these and the cost of the delay — or the penalty — will dwarf whatever you saved on the toll.
BorderPro Early Access
BorderPro early access can help carriers prepare and validate eManifest data. Production CBP/CBSA transmission and live agency-status access remain pending certification. Join early access.
For route planning, review our 2026 Gordie Howe truck toll guide and Gordie Howe vs Ambassador Bridge comparison.