C-TPAT document spells out minimum security criteria for carriers

C-TPAT document spells out minimum security criteria for carriers    Under draft security criteria proposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, ocean carriers must conduct pre-departure security sweeps of their vessels for stowaways and cross-border trucking companies need to instruct drivers to inspect vehicles and trailers prior to and after loading for false compartments used for contraband.
   The new criteria are part of the next phase in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, during which CBP is tightening its guidelines and defining in more detail minimum steps companies need to take to participate in the trusted shipper program. In March, CBP issued stricter instructions for C-TPAT importers and now is turning its attention to ocean and highway carriers.
   CBP officials circulated separate drafts of the updated C-TPAT requirements to ocean and motor carrier groups in November for their feedback, and the documents were posted Friday by the National Industrial Transportation League in its weekly newsletter, and on it's Web site (https://www.nitl.org/CTPATtruck.pdf    and https://www.nitl.org/CTPATsea.pdf ).
   The criteria follow the same general rules that apply to importers — verifying the security practices of business partners, maintaining container and trailer security, controlling employee and visitor access to facilities, employee employment and criminal background screening, physical and information technology security — but are customized for each mode.
   Companies should assess the risk to their operations and develop policies to implement security controls.
   Under C-TPAT’s trickle down effect, C-TPAT importers and carriers are supposed to use their leverage to add language to their contracts requiring suppliers and service providers to follow C-TPAT security recommendations and verify that rules are met.
   The highway carrier criteria are designed to address continuing problems with drug smuggling that can compromise a supply chain and provide an opportunity for terrorists to smuggle themselves or weapons for an attack.
   “The determination and scope of criminal elements targeting world commerce through internal conspiracies requires companies and, in particular, highway carriers to elevate their security practices, especially if the highway carrier has the exclusive benefit of enrollment in the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program,” according to the highway carrier draft.
   FAST is an expedited border-clearance programs for truckers.
   The draft security criteria would require carriers to:
   * Use an activity log or technology to track and monitor the status of trucks on delivery routes. Predetermined routes should be identified and random checks used to make sure trucks are staying on schedule and within route parameters (highway).
   * Provide a copy of the vessel stowage plan at CBP’s request (ocean).
   * Only transport maritime containers of C-TPAT importers that have a high security seal that meets ISO standards (highway).
   * Develop written procedures to identify factors or practices that may raise a red flag about the risk of shipment from an ocean consolidator, and undertake appropriate response measures, up to and including examination of the container prior to loading, or refusal to load the NVO’s container.