NEWARK, N.J., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- On Aug. 1, the Transportation Security Administration will move to a 100 percent air freight screening requirement. Delays on TSA certification of scanning equipment, trust issues regarding international protocol differences and shippers' concerns over sensitive or high-value cargo are adding to the general belief that the August deadline may not be met, but will certainly be a step in a much longer, winding road.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100712/NY33758 )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100712/NY33758 )
The jump from screening 75 percent of all cargo shipments to 100 percent – the most recent in the tiered effort to tighten passenger flight security – is much greater than it might appear. "As of Aug. 1, 100 percent means 100 percent, and there is no way around it," said Brandon Fried, executive director of the Airforwarders Association.
In 2008, U.S. passenger flights carried 7.3 billion pounds of air freight, of which approximately 42 percent originated outside of the U.S. – beyond the TSA's reach, said the General Accountability Office. This high percentage would undoubtedly affect the feasibility of meeting an Aug. 1 deadline, it said in a late-June report. Even when met, the deadline will still be a step leading to a larger goal of an international security net.
Regardless, the shipping industry is preparing for increased requirements. Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer are getting their own facilities TSA certified in order to handle security for sensitive cargo in house. Business may shift to freighter operators, which have different screening rules than passenger aircraft, or forwarders with approved screening programs, reports The Journal of Commerce. "You're going to see a lot of shippers relying on their logistics providers," said David Wilt, global supply chain security manager for Xerox.
This week's Cover Story analyzes this latest defining moment in a supply chain security movement that started after the September 11 terrorist attacks and has been gathering momentum with various programs and levels of enforcement. Ever-increasing regulation will mean more pressure on efficiency and accuracy.
To view daily news visit www.joc.com. For all media enquires, including article reprints, please contact Editorial Director Paul Page.
Since 1827, The Journal of Commerce has been the most trusted source of intelligence for international logistics executives to help them plan global supply chains and better manage day-to-day transportation of goods and commodities in the United States and internationally.
To become a member of The Journal of Commerce click here. JOC members have access to our weekly print and digital magazine and Web site, as well as a 10% discount on all JOC Events and trade shows, UBM Global Trade Directories and select PIERS products. Authoritative editorial content in the form of daily news, weekly analysis and regular features ensure our members have the information and data necessary to understand the issues facing trucking, rail and maritime transportation. Members enjoy access to "By the Numbers," an exclusive weekly compilation of key industry statistics that provides detailed views of current market trends across all modes. Regular market intelligence reports -- utilizing PIERS trade data -- include Top 100 Imports and Exporters, quarterly Top 40 Container lines, Transpacific and Transatlantic Maritime Forecasts and Top Container Ports and Terminals. Market-sector supplements, including Breakbulk, Cool Cargoes, 3PL, JOC Guide to Trucking and others, ensure all modes are comprehensively covered.
About UBM Global Trade - UBM Global Trade, formerly Commonwealth Business Media, Inc., has been the leading provider of proprietary data, news, business intelligence and analytical content supporting commercial maritime, rail, trucking, warehousing and logistics industries worldwide since 1827. The company's portfolio of more than 100 online, print and interactive workflow business solutions includes The Journal of Commerce, The Journal of Commerce Events, PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions and an array of international trade and transportation databases and directories. UBM Global Trade, a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited, is headquartered in Newark, NJ, with offices throughout the United States and in Canada and Hong Kong. For more information, explore www.ubmglobaltrade.com or call 877-675-4761 (+1-847-763-4932 outside the U.S. and Canada).
SOURCE The Journal of Commerce
