AISA develops C-TPAT alternative

AISA develops C-TPAT alternative    The American Institute for Shippers’ Associations has developed a program to assure its members meet the standards of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, despite that the Department of Homeland Security has told the association shippers’ associations do not qualify for C-TPAT participation.
   At the AISA annual national conference Tuesday in Palm Beach, Fla., AISA general counsel Ronald Cobert told the group member associations and the companies they represent should have a program in place to assure they can retain the business of shippers who participate in C-TPAT, the Customs and Border Protection program.
   Cobert said shippers’ associations face the potential loss of larger customers who insist that their transportation and logistics services companies are C-TPAT compliant.
   To accomplish that goal, AISA has developed a security program based largely on the recommendations of the Transportation Security Administration to meet the standards of C-TPAT members.
   That would include policies for checking company personnel security, procedural security for handling cargo documentation, a program to make sure employees know the DHS freight-handling standards — even if the association member does not physically handle cargo — and ways to maintain the security of information technology systems.
   AISA also has developed a questionnaire to send out to supply chain partners to make sure those partners meet C-TPAT standards.
   With such a program in place, association members can tell customers they are in substantial compliance with C-TPAT guidelines. They will also be able to offer verification of compliance.
   Cobert said association members “should be ahead of the game,” even if they are not direct C-TPAT participants.
   “It’s our responsibility within our group to set up the rules and police it,” said AISA President Bill Clark.