US border agents will now see rail cargo manifests before trains leave the country

US Customs and Border Protection wants to require freight trains to submit electronic manifests before they cross the border. This means border agents will know what is on a train before it leaves the US, not just when it arrives.

For years, US border agents only saw detailed manifests for rail cargo entering the country. This rule means they will now have the same information for cargo leaving the country. This closes a long-standing information gap for rail exports, bringing them in line with other forms of transport.