10 facts about C-TPAT

You may be wondering, as I did, what the heck is C-TPAT? After reading the acronyms, I realized that the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism is an interesting supply chain program spearheaded by US Customs and Border Protection.

1 – The program is established to improve the security used by private companies, as regards their supply chain, in the fight against terrorism.

We live in an age where terrorism seems to be everywhere. The ingenuity and creativity that these people use is at a high level with the intention of causing damage to property, property or people.

2 – This certification is important, but not necessary.

Terrorism continues to wreak havoc in different countries and it is essential to have a global system to prevent these atrocities. If you want to think outside the box and follow trends, getting accredited is a no-brainer. Ocean Import / Export and Transportation will continue to receive important inspections and increased scrutiny. Being a member of this program will make your life easier.

3 – Your organization needs to have its supply chain fully documented.

All aspects of the process, from collection to staging and delivery to its final destination, must be detailed and accounted for. Action steps must be addressed to recognize, reduce, and eliminate potential or actual hazards along the journey.

4 – Certification means that your company is considered low risk.

CBP inspectors have a thankless job. Time is money and everyone wants to spend, in order to reach their final destination. C-TPAT speeds up this process and puts your business on the fast track.

5 – Many different types of businesses are eligible.

There are many ways to transport goods or merchandise. Due to this fact, several different sub-industries encompass this program. These include, but are not limited to:

Recognized US Importers, US Cross Border Highway Carriers Foreign Manufacturers Only, US Marine Terminal Operators and Port Authority Personnel, US Licensed Customs Brokers, Canadian manufacturing companies, third party logistics support or Mexican manufacturing companies and exporters.

6 – Getting accredited is good for your business in the long run.

Financially, you may not see big savings right away. Throughout the course of your certification, the benefits you will receive are more subtle and will result in an overall reduction in your final expenses.

Some of the benefits include: Priority (Front-Of-Line) and a reduced number of CBP inspections; possible mitigation of penalties due to “low risk” status in certain situations; a Supply Chain Security Specialist (SCSS) assigned by CBP to help make your process expeditious; Giving CBP permission to share your information with other countries will, in most cases, also speed up inspection times at their ports. Level 3 importers are granted a block designation application for the DHS Security Act.

7 – C-TPAT means only minimal investment in IT resources / infrastructure.

If your business were to invest in the right technology from the beginning of this certified lifetime, overall risk analysis, organization, and data collection would be a seamless process that would make better use of your time.

8 – C-TPAT security seals are like a secret handshake.

Federal CBP inspectors search thousands of vehicles each week. A company using authorized labels sends a visual signal to the inspector that they may know what they are supposed to do. After a quick review of paperwork and documentation, knowing that your group is part of the program makes processing a breeze.

9 – Contrary to popular opinion, the goal is not to burden you with more work.

This program is designed to improve the overall security of your supply chains and hopefully eliminate ridiculous amounts of paperwork and red tape that come with not being on the program.

10 – As this program evolves, you will receive more benefits.

Several different bills and laws are making their way through Congress for consideration. Some of these bills include the GreenLane Marine Cargo Security Act and the DHS Security Act. If you are an international freight forwarder in North America or work in the freight / transportation industry, the future is now.