Product Information

Descartes Air Automated Manifest Service For Container Freight Stations

Helping You Meet U.S. Customs Electronic Manifest Requirements

Automated Manifest System (AMS) is a means of speeding the flow of import cargo into the United States. Air AMS is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) electronic interface and release notification system designed to allow Air Waybill information to be filed with CBP, and to provide responses back to the filing company regarding the acceptance and status of Air Waybill data. Descartes’ Air AMS service is a unified customs filing solution for airlines, deconsolidators or freight forwarders. This service helps customers comply with CBP regulations and procedures, including the Trade Act of 2002 and subsequent regulations, and is certified and approved by the CBP. To accommodate customers’ varying technical capabilities, Descartes offers options that range from a user-friendly Internet-based service that permits manual entry of cargo manifest information to a more automated and integrated global EDI connection to securely transmit Air AMS filing data. Carriers are required to file Master Air Waybills in AMS, and may also file the House Air Waybills. Container Freight Stations (CFS) can participate fully once cargo has been transferred to their facility by the carrier. Through participation in the AMS system, CFS operators gain automatic visibility into the status of cargo destined for their facility. Without participation they are unable to gain any benefit from the existing Customs Compliance process. By connecting to AMS, CFS operators can anticipate the arrival of cargo and scheduled time of arrival. Descartes’ Air AMS for Container Freight Stations provides a proven, automated link to the Air AMS system. Descartes’ Air AMS Service is part of the Descartes Global Logistics Network™ (GLN), which enables the world’s leading transportation providers to connect to their trading partners and reliably exchange information to drive delivery performance and high levels of customer satisfaction. The Descartes GLN helps companies better manage their logistics book-to-bill process, track inventory, meet regulatory requirements, optimize fleet performance, and effectively communicate with their logistics partners.

Comply with CBP Regulations & Procedures

Easily submit Air Waybills to (CBP) Air AMS System and process them in an efficient manner.

Potential Benefits

The Descartes Air AMS Service provides the CFS Operator:

• Full cargo arrival and House Air Waybill details for their Container Freight Station facilities

• Consistent global visibility into the status of their cargo

• Automatic visibility to carrier splits

• Participation in the AMS paperless in-bond process

• Lower compliance costs and improved efficiencies through consistent, single-source accurate real time AMS status for their cargo

The Descartes Air AMS Service is full of the same features found on all Descartes Customs Compliance Applications:

• Comprehensive administration and access control

• Commercially sensitive data is kept secure and confidential

• Interactive messaging and EDI global access

• Dedicated redundant broadband, secured connections to/from CBP Systems

• 7/24 hour availability, system monitoring and customer service hotline

• Network connectivity to all major air carriers available

• Ability to create multiple AMS filing accounts under a unified account

• Preload and easily maintain party profiles

• White label capability

• Scale existing infrastructure with data capture flexibility from keyed entry to completely automated EDI process

• Sophisticated tools to improve customer service by enabling the distribution of customs messages and status information to logistics partners and clients

• Integration with Descartes Air ACI service, a service for freight forwarders and carriers to file in-bound manifest, export cargo and conveyance information to the Canadian Customs (CBSA) ACI System, for a comprehensive customs filing solution.