How to Complete and Use an A8B In-Transit Manifest

When do you need an A8B?

An A8B (the same form as CBP Form 7512-B) is used when U.S. goods travel between two U.S. points through Canada, or Canadian goods travel between two Canadian points through the United States. CBSA calls this a domestic in-transit movement. Goods being delivered in Canada do not belong on an A8B.

The test is simple: if the freight starts and ends in the same country, and the other country is only the route, it is a candidate for an A8B. Common examples include loads between the lower 48 states and Alaska, or a Michigan-to-New York run through southern Ontario. [CBSA D3-4-2]

A8B or 7512-B? They are the exact same form. CBSA calls it the A8B, while CBP's regulations call it the United States-Canada Transit Manifest, Customs Form 7512-B Canada 8 1/2. If a CBP officer, broker, or customer asks for a 7512-B on a truck transiting Canada or the United States, this is the document they mean. [19 CFR 123.41]

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A8B vs. A8A vs. ACI eManifest

The A8B and A8A(B) are separate CBSA forms. The A8B covers goods that only pass through; the A8A(B) covers in-bond goods moving within Canada toward release. ACI/eManifest is the electronic report for goods entering Canada, and it can also be used in place of the A8B.

Choosing the path before dispatch matters, because it changes the paperwork and the sealing requirement. If you report the move through ACI/eManifest, no A8B or seal is required, and CBSA treats it as an import movement. The load does not need a seal unless the border services officer requires one. [CBSA D3-4-2]

Using BorderConnect To report a truck carrying only in-transit goods, start a new ACI eManifest and assign the In-Transit cargo exemption to the truck or trailer holding the goods. See the BorderConnect in-transit walkthrough or set up filing at BorderConnect.

Before you start

Before completing an A8B, confirm the carrier is CBSA bonded or holds a single trip authorization, that every piece of freight is listed on a waybill, and that the truck, trailer, route, and seals are settled. Equipment generally cannot be switched once the move begins.

Have these in place before the driver leaves the yard.

• The freight starts and ends in the same country, with no delivery planned in the transit country.
• The carrier holds an active CBSA bonded carrier code, or a single trip authorization obtained before the move.
• A full four-part A8B set is on hand: white, blue, green, and pink.
• Waybills or bills of lading cover all goods on board and are available for review.
• Tractor, trailer, licence plate, and driver details are confirmed.
• The U.S. port of departure, Canadian ports, and U.S. port of re-entry are planned.
• Seals are on hand, and the driver knows the numbers must stay intact to re-entry.
• Any regulated goods have been checked for extra requirements, such as CFIA paper release.

Field-by-field completion

The carrier completes the vehicle, port of departure, bond, carrier, driver, waybill, and package fields, then signs the certification. Customs officers complete the arrival, seal, exit, and irregularity fields. Leave officer-only fields blank.

The table follows CBSA's Appendix A completion instructions and the official A8B form. [CBSA D3-4-2] [CBSA A8B]

The four A8B copies

An A8B is prepared in quadruplicate. The white arrival copy stays with the first customs office, the blue exit and green re-entry copies support closing the move, and the pink carrier copy returns to the driver for the carrier's records.

The table shows a U.S. load transiting Canada under CBSA's procedure. For Canadian goods transiting the United States, the same copies apply with the agencies reversed. [CBSA D3-4-2]

Note U.S. regulations describe the Canadian port of exit certifying the manifest and returning two copies to the driver, so the exact handling can differ by port. Follow the officer's direction, and never leave a checkpoint without the copies you were given. [19 CFR 123.41]

BorderPrint BorderPrint's barcoded A8B manifests come in riveted packets with carbon copies and a unique transit manifest barcode on each document. Non-barcoded A8B manifests are also available.

Sealing requirements

On the paper process, CBSA requires domestic in-transit movements on form A8B to be sealed to the point of final export. Goods are sealed with company seals or CBSA green ball seals, which must stay intact until CBP removes them at the office of re-entry.

CBSA verifies seal numbers on the form and checks whether seals are intact at exit. A “no” in the seals-intact field is reported as part of the form's irregularity report. [CBSA D3-4-2]

• ✓ Keep a record of the seal number before departure, and check it against the physical seal.
• ✓ Leave seals in place until CBP removes them at the office of re-entry, or as the officer directs.
• × Breaking a seal en route without contacting the nearest CBSA office for instructions.

Shop seals Keep high-security bolt seals or cable seals on hand for in-transit lanes, and see security seal requirements.

Operational workflow

For U.S. goods crossing Canada, the driver validates the four copies with CBP at the U.S. port of departure, reports at the first Canadian port, moves sealed through Canada, stops at the Canadian port of exit, and closes the move with CBP at the U.S. port of re-entry.

These steps combine CBSA's procedure with the U.S. regulation for trucks transiting Canada. [CBSA D3-4-2] [19 CFR 123.41]

1. Confirm the path. Decide between the A8B paper process and ACI/eManifest reporting, and confirm the carrier's bond or single trip authorization.
2. Complete all four copies. Fill in the carrier fields and list every waybill and package count. The driver signs the certification.
3. Validate at the U.S. port of departure. The driver presents the four copies to CBP, which refers to the form as the 7512-B. The officer stamps and initials each copy, then returns them all.
4. Report at the first Canadian port. The officer reviews, stamps, and initials each copy, and may check the goods against the bills of lading. A manifest not properly validated by CBP can send the truck back to the U.S. port of departure.
5. Seal the load. Goods are sealed with company seals or CBSA green ball seals. CBSA keeps the white copy and returns the blue, green, and pink copies to the driver.
6. Move through Canada. Keep the same equipment and report any accident, load shift, or other irregularity to the nearest CBSA office.
7. Stop at the Canadian port of exit. The officer checks the seals and irregularities, records the port and date, and initials the document.
8. Report to CBP at re-entry. The officer stamps the remaining copies and ensures seals are intact, where applicable. The pink copy is returned to the driver.
9. File the carrier copy. Keep the pink copy with the trip file as the carrier's record of the completed move.

Electronic reporting on an A8B trip

When using the A8B paper process, CBSA exempts domestic in-transit movements from cargo data. CBSA will not issue AMPS penalties for failing to transmit in-transit conveyance data when a truck arrives only with goods moving in-transit. Any goods on board that are being imported still need standard ACI/eManifest reporting. [CBSA D3-4-2]

On the U.S. side, domestic cargo arriving at a U.S. port after transiting Canada or Mexico is exempt from CBP's advance electronic cargo filing requirement. [19 CFR 123.92]

Canadian goods transiting the United States

The process mirrors the steps above: CBP handles the arrival copy at the first U.S. port, and CBSA verifies seals and stamps the remaining copies at re-entry. Unlike U.S. goods crossing Canada, this cargo remains subject to CBP's advance electronic filing requirement. BorderConnect's guidance is that the carrier must be bonded and file a Transportation and Exportation (T&E) in-bond, then file an ACI eManifest with the In-Transit cargo exemption before returning to Canada. Confirm the U.S. leg with your customs broker. [19 CFR 123.42] [BorderConnect Wiki]

Irregularities and changes

If an accident, load shift, or other event occurs during an A8B move, contact the nearest CBSA office for instructions. Equipment cannot be switched except for unforeseen circumstances such as a breakdown or accident, and those irregularities must be reported to CBSA.

By signing the form, the driver or agent certifies that any discrepancy, error, omission, or irregularity will be reported to customs immediately. The reverse of the form has a report of irregularity covering shortages and other problems. [CBSA A8B]

• ✓ Call first: contact the nearest CBSA office and follow its instructions for managing the cargo.
• ✓ Record the details: keep the waybill number, seal condition, vehicle condition, and when and by whom the problem was noted.
• × Moving the freight to another truck or trailer and hoping the change goes unnoticed at the exit port.

Common mistakes

Common A8B errors include using it for freight delivered in Canada, moving without bond or single trip authorization, skipping validation at the U.S. port of departure, mishandling seals, and switching equipment without reporting it. Most are avoidable if dispatch confirms the path before the truck leaves.

Frequently asked questions

What is an A8B form?

The A8B is the United States-Canada Transit Manifest, also known to U.S. Customs and Border Protection as Form 7512-B. CBSA uses it as the cargo control document for U.S. goods moving from one U.S. point to another through Canada, and for Canadian goods moving from one Canadian point to another through the United States.

Is an A8B the same as a CBP Form 7512-B?

Yes. The A8B and CBP Form 7512-B are the exact same form. CBSA calls it the A8B, and CBP's regulations call it the United States-Canada Transit Manifest, Customs Form 7512-B Canada 8 1/2. One four-part manifest is presented to both agencies, so you do not need a separate form for each country.

When do I need an A8B in-transit manifest?

Use an A8B when goods start and end in the same country and only pass through the other country by highway, such as a load moving between the lower 48 states and Alaska through Canada. If the goods are being delivered in Canada, an A8B is not the right document; use standard ACI/eManifest reporting and, where applicable, an A8A(B) in-bond movement.

Is an A8B the same as an A8A?

No. They are separate CBSA forms. The A8A(B) In Bond Cargo Control Document controls goods moving in bond within Canada toward release. The A8B United States-Canada Transit Manifest controls goods that only transit the other country and return to their country of origin.

Do I still need to file ACI eManifest with an A8B?

When you use the A8B paper process, CBSA exempts domestic in-transit movements from cargo data, and it will not issue AMPS penalties for failing to transmit in-transit conveyance data when a truck arrives only with in-transit goods. Carriers may instead report the move through ACI/eManifest. In that case CBSA does not require an A8B or a seal, and treats the movement as an import movement. A truck also carrying goods for import still needs ACI/eManifest for those goods.

Do I need an ACE manifest when re-entering the United States on an A8B?

U.S. regulations exempt domestic cargo arriving at a U.S. port after transiting Canada or Mexico from CBP's advance electronic cargo filing requirement. Canadian cargo transiting the United States is different: it remains subject to advance electronic filing. Confirm the requirement for your load with CBP or your customs broker.

Who can use an A8B in Canada?

A highway carrier moving U.S. goods through Canada must be a CBSA bonded carrier or obtain a single trip authorization before moving through Canada. The carrier's CBSA code, or the single trip authorization number, is entered in the CBSA bond number field.

How many copies of the A8B are required?

Four. The original white copy is the arrival copy, the blue second copy is the exit copy, the green third copy is the re-entry copy, and the pink fourth copy is the carrier copy.

Does an A8B load have to be sealed?

Yes, when the move uses the A8B paper process. CBSA lists domestic in-transit movements moving on form A8B among the situations that require sealing. Goods are sealed with company seals or CBSA green ball seals, which must stay intact until U.S. CBP removes them at the office of re-entry. If the carrier reports the move through ACI/eManifest instead, no seal is required unless the border services officer requires one.

Can I switch trucks or trailers during an A8B move?

Equipment switching is not permitted during the in-transit move unless there are unforeseen circumstances such as a breakdown or accident, and those irregularities must be reported to CBSA. If an accident, load shift, or other event occurs, contact the nearest CBSA office for instructions.

Where can I get A8B forms?

CBSA says copies can be ordered from its National Distribution Forms Centre. The form may also be privately printed if the supply conforms to the official form in size, wording, arrangement, and quality and colour of paper. BorderPrint sells four-part A8B in-transit manifests in barcoded and non-barcoded versions.

Sources

• CBSA — Memorandum D3-4-2 (Highway pre-arrival and reporting requirements) Domestic in-transit definition and procedure, bond and single trip rules, copies, sealing, ACI/eManifest options, and Appendix A completion instructions.
• CBSA — Form A8B, United States – Canada Transit Manifest The official form, its fields, carrier certification, report of irregularity, and private printing conditions.
• 19 CFR 123.41 — Truck shipments transiting Canada The CBP name for the form, Customs Form 7512-B Canada 8 1/2, U.S. port of departure validation, Canadian ports of arrival and exit, and U.S. port of re-entry.
• 19 CFR 123.42 — Truck shipments transiting the United States The procedure for Canadian goods moving through the United States.
• 19 CFR 123.92 — Electronic information for truck cargo Advance electronic filing, including the treatment of cargo in transit.
• BorderConnect Wiki — In-Transit Manifest In-transit procedures and how to apply the In-Transit cargo exemption on an ACI eManifest in BorderConnect.

Related resources

• How to Complete and Use a CBSA A8A Form
• Security Seal Requirements
• ACI eManifest for Highway Carriers
• ACE eManifest for Highway Carriers
• Canada CBSA Cross-Border Requirements
• U.S. CBP Cross-Border Requirements
• A8B In-Transit Manifests Explained
• A8B Transit Edge Cases Explained
• All A8B in-transit manifests
• All cross-border resources