December 18, 2009
Contact your local DHL Global Forwarding service representative or visit our interactive website at:
www.dhl-dgf.com/ccsp.
In follow-up to our previous communications on the TSA CCSP Program, we would like to update you about new developments.
- DGF is the industry leader in the number of certified locations
- We have made extensive investments in staffing, training and equipment
- We have implemented changes to our operational processes to offer unparallel security and minimize any delay in transport time by insuring that cargo tendered to a passenger carrier is ready for carriage at the time of tender
The United States Congress approved Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 on August 3, 2007 which mandates 100% screening of ALL Air Cargo traveling on Passenger Aircraft.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the Federal agency charged with the authority and responsibility to protect the nation’s transportation systems, to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.
The TSA is responsible for issuing security directives and emergency amendments to target critical areas within air cargo security. The Transportation Security Administration has created the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) to enable the air cargo industry to achieve the 100% screening mandate of all cargo transported on a passenger aircraft by August 1, 2010, with an interim requirement to screen 50% of such cargo by February 2, 2009.
The CCSP authorizes facilities to become certified cargo screening facilities (CCSF) once they have been vetted, validated and TSA-certified to screen air cargo.
The CCSP also requires that a CCSF apply stringent chain of custody methods to safeguard previously screened cargo as it travels through the air cargo supply chain prior to being transported on a passenger aircraft.
DHL Global Forwarding, the leader in both Air and Ocean Freight services has been fully supporting the Homeland Security initiative and has been actively engaged in screening cargo in our Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCSF). We have prepared in advance for this new mandate so that we may continue to offer you unparalleled security and undisrupted service.
- The entire warehouse in our facilities are approved by TSA as Designated Security Areas (DSA)
- All DHL Global Forwarding employees and our screening personnel are registered by TSA as having a Security Threat Assessment (STA)
Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCSF) must:
- Adhere to stringent security requirements set by a TSA security program
- Initiate and maintain the integrity of cargo through chain of custody measures
- Screen cargo at the piece level
A “Piece” is generally defined as a single box, carton or container that houses material. The shipper must declare the number of pieces a shipment contains (SLAC = Shipper Load and Count) on their transport documents. A shipment or part of a shipment tendered on a skid where it is apparent that there are multiple cartons underneath the shrink-wrap or banding is not considered one piece. The shipper is responsible to ascertain the number of “pieces” a shipment contains by providing the SLAC or quantity of pieces based on the smallest external packaging unit.
i.e. 2 skids with 20 boxes each = SLAC 40
Every “piece” will be subject to Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) or physical screening. ETD technology requires a swab to be applied directly to the surface of the piece, and then placed into an analyzer to determine if any explosive elements are present. The swab must touch the piece – not the over-wrapping (shrink-wrap).
This will mean removing material and breaking down a skid in order to screen at the piece level. We will attempt to rebuild the skid after inspection however each piece will be labeled and the HAWB piece count will be issued as the SLAC as declared by the shipper and verified by DHL Global Forwarding.
You can reduce the number of actual “pieces” by use of overpack. If your 20 boxes were put into an outer box, then you would have a SLAC of 1 piece, and only one piece would need screening, not all the boxes inside the overpack. DHL Global Forwarding must adhere to the complex requirements of the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP).
This new government mandate has dramatically increased the amount of resources spent handling each shipment we tender to air carriers for export from the United States. We are doing everything possible to insure the new rules will not cause any delays in collection, transit and delivery times of your freight.
Although, DHL Global Forwarding has been performing this service for the past 8 months, we have not passed on any of this cost. Unfortunately, we can no longer absorb the cost for cargo screening alone. If cargo is tendered to the airline unscreened, carriers will charge between $0.05/kg USD and $0.14/kg USD for TSA mandated cargo screening. This fee is in addition to the already imposed Security Surcharge fee being assessed by the carriers.
Effective 18 January 2010, DHL Global Forwarding USA will increase its Security Surcharges fee from $0.15/kg USD and/or $15.00 USD minimum to $0.20/kg and/or $20.00 USD minimum. This fee will be inclusive of the airline security surcharge and our TSA fee.
Please understand that this surcharge is meant only to cover the existing airline pass thru and our increased costs of meeting new government guidelines designed to protect and strengthen the global supply chain we all depend upon to do business.
If you require additional information or clarification, please contact your local DHL Global Forwarding service representative or visit our website at www.dhl-dgf.com/ccsp. This site will provide you an opportunity to submit frequently asked questions to our CCSP experts.
We appreciate your understanding and your co-operation. We all have a stake in ensuring a proper balance between security and commerce, and by working together we will keep chains safe and productive for decades to come.
Sincerely yours,
Gary Schultheis
Senior Vice President, Air Freight
Americas
DHL Global Forwarding
