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Port of entry: Detroit, Michigan

Customs broker for the Port of Detroit

Detroit, Michigan is CBP port 3801 in the Detroit Field Office. Trucks from Windsor, Ontario cross at the Ambassador Bridge or the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Request a quoteCall (908) 291-8001

Port facts

What does CBP port 3801 cover?

CBP lists Detroit, Michigan as port 3801. The port includes the Ambassador Bridge, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the Fort Street Cargo Facility, rail, marine and the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport.
CBP port code
3801
Detroit, Michigan
CBP field office
Detroit
Ambassador Bridge
Commercial trucks, 24 hours a day
CBP lists a FAST lane here.
Gordie Howe International Bridge
Commercial trucks, 24 hours a day
Opened on July 27, 2026. It connects Ontario Highway 401 to Michigan Interstate 75.
Other CBP facilities
Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, rail, marine, Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport
Before arrival
Wait until Allied confirms the filings
Allied tells you when to report to CBP. CBP must authorize release before you take the goods away.

Can I get a PAPS and a U.S. entry at Detroit today?

Yes, for selected requests. Request a same-day PAPS and clearance. Allied CHB files the ACE eManifest (PAPS) and the U.S. customs entry the same day for drivers and small importers from Canada.

A PAPS number is the shipment number on the truck's ACE eManifest. CBP must receive the eManifest no later than 1 hour before the truck reaches the port, or 30 minutes for a shipment that qualifies for FAST processing (19 CFR 123.92).

The entry tells CBP what the goods are, what they cost and who imports them. The PAPS number connects the truck to that entry. If a required filing is missing, CBP can send the truck back or hold it at the port. Filing acceptance does not guarantee release. CBP decides to release or examine the goods.

These timing rules apply when CBP requires advance truck cargo information. Some informal entries are exempt under 19 CFR 123.92(b)(2): goods that are free of duty (unconditionally or conditionally) and worth $2,500 or less on CBP Form 7523, entries on CBP Form 368 or 368A, and U.S. goods returned on CBP Form 3311. Allied checks which filings your shipment needs before we quote.

No carrier or SCAC? Tell us. For selected requests that our staff accepts, Allied acts as the carrier of record under its own SCAC for the ACE truck eManifest. Allied also files the U.S. customs entry.

PAPS (ACE eManifest)
$500 estimate
U.S. customs entry
$125 estimate
Extra
Bond, duties, taxes and fees
Paid at cost

Allied reviews each request first

Our staff reviews each request before we accept it. We tell you if we can file it the same day and what we need from you. Start the same-day PAPS request.

Road transport rules

Customs filing does not replace USDOT and motor carrier rules. Tell us if the trip is personal or for business. Send the weight ratings and the loaded weights of the truck and the trailer. In interstate or foreign commerce, a vehicle or combination with a weight rating or weight of 10,001 pounds or more can need a USDOT number (49 CFR 390.5, 390.201). Other rules can also apply.

Which Detroit bridges take trucks?

Detroit has two bridges for commercial trucks. The Gordie Howe International Bridge gives a direct highway connection from Highway 401 in Ontario to I-75 in Michigan. Tell us the bridge when you send the request.
Truck crossings at Detroit (port 3801)
BridgeCommercial trucksCBP hours
Ambassador BridgeYes, with a FAST lane24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Gordie Howe International BridgeYes24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Hours are from the CBP port page and the CBP border wait time list, and can change. For FAST processing, the driver must hold a valid FAST card, the carrier and importer must meet CTPAT rules, and the shipment must qualify. Use the 1-hour period unless Allied confirms FAST for this trip. A 24-hour crossing does not mean that Allied offers 24-hour filing service.

What does Allied CHB need for a Detroit entry?

Allied CHB files U.S. entries remotely in ACE under filer code 9AJ at every U.S. port of entry. Send the documents before the truck leaves. For the first entry, sign the power of attorney online.

  • Commercial invoice and packing list

  • Existing carrier name and SCAC, if any; truck, trailer and driver details

  • Bridge, planned crossing date and time

  • Importer of record number

  • A customs bond, if required

    Allied confirms the entry type and any bond requirement. See customs bonds.

  • A signed power of attorney

    One time, before the first entry.

What if I bring a car or a trailer through Detroit?

  • Cars and trucks

    Send the VIN, the ownership documents, the date of manufacture and the engine details before travel. NHTSA HS-7 box 1 needs a vehicle at least 25 years old from its date of manufacture. EPA code E on Form 3520-1 needs at least 21 years and the original configuration. A replaced engine must meet EPA rules. Heavy-duty highway engines use EPA Form 3520-21. Allied confirms the declarations. See vehicle import and how to import a car.

  • Trailers

    A trailer that you import permanently is imported merchandise. Declare it, also when it carries other goods. It also needs a DOT HS-7 declaration and a safety compliance or exemption basis. Send its VIN, the ownership documents and photos of its certification label before travel. See trailer import.

  • Commercial loads

    CBP generally requires a formal entry above $2,500 and for some goods at any value. An eligible shipment of lower value can use an informal entry. Allied confirms the entry type and any bond after we review the goods. See formal entry for the rules.

  • Regular carriers

    Carriers that cross often can use Allied for every load. See cross-border truck clearance.

Quote on request

How do I get a quote?

Tell us about the truck and the goods. We reply with a quote and the list of documents that we need.

Request: Customs entry at Detroit

Quote on request

Do not send an EIN, a Social Security number or a password in this form. We ask for them securely later.

Or call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com.

Questions

Questions about customs at Detroit

What is the CBP port code for Detroit?

3801. CBP lists Detroit, Michigan as port 3801 in the Detroit Field Office. The Ambassador Bridge, the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel use this code.

Is the Gordie Howe International Bridge open for trucks?

Yes. The bridge opened on July 27, 2026, and the first commercial truck crossed that day. The CBP border wait time list shows commercial lanes there, 24 hours a day.

What is a PAPS number?

It is the shipment number on the truck's ACE eManifest. CBP must receive the eManifest no later than 1 hour before arrival, or 30 minutes for a shipment that qualifies for FAST processing (19 CFR 123.92). The U.S. entry refers to this number.

Can Allied file my PAPS and entry the same day?

Yes, for selected requests. Our staff reviews each request first. The estimates are $500 for the PAPS and $125 for the entry. The bond, duties, taxes and fees are extra.

Do I need a customs broker in Detroit?

No. A licensed broker with a national permit can do customs business at every U.S. port (19 CFR 111.19). Allied CHB files Detroit entries remotely in ACE. The truck and any exam stay at the bridge.

Does the Ambassador Bridge have a FAST lane?

Yes. CBP lists Detroit, Michigan (Ambassador Bridge) on its FAST lane list. It is for shipments that qualify for FAST processing: a driver with a FAST card, and a carrier and importer that meet CTPAT rules.

Truck crossing at Detroit today?

Send the invoice, the transport details and the bridge. We confirm if we can accept the request and meet your planned arrival time.

Call (908) 291-8001 or email info@alliedchb.com

Request a quoteAll ports

Last reviewed September 28, 2026. This page explains customs rules in general terms. It is not legal advice. Duty rates and CBP procedures change often, and we confirm the figures for your shipment in writing before you commit.

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