US Transportation Security Agency – air cargo developments

US Transportation Security Agency – air cargo developments/Bob Moore/TSA and consultants from Deloitte

Moore was more focused than the EU – and obviously better funded. His primary objective for being at the meeting was to explore the use of portals for homeland security. The TSA launched the Freight Assessment System (FAS) in 2004 when it was mandated by Congress.

FAS is an ‘interagency’ initiative (i.e. they work with other government offices such as customs). They have also selected a number of industry partners which include CO, AA, Team Worldwide, DHL GF and Eagle.

TSA is obviously spending big bucks as they have engaged Deloitte to do most of the work. Deloitte did an industry GAP analysis and time and motion studies with FFs and airlines. The first objective is for domestic airfreight moving on passenger aircraft.

TSA’s approach:
-100% screening – not 100% inspection
-Automate risk assessment – scope multiple attributes that will make cargo a risky
-Meet air cargo chain time requirements – i.e. don’t slow it down.
-Balance commerce and security
-Drive standards throughout the industry (again, Deloitte has found that the IT systems of FFs and airlines do not produce accurate data. The TSA might establish regulations that certain standards have to be met.)
-Leverage technology with the department of Homeland Security
-Avoid silos of understanding
-‘No duplicate data’ – use data that is already in the system.

The TSA strategy is to digest shipment data and apply Red, Yellow and Green scores to shipments. The TSA approach is to look at shipments, not know shippers.

(I talked with the Deloitte consultant during a break and he was not very articulate of the specifics of an airfreight operation and how the application of the red, yellow and green would actually work.)

The TSA wants to use existing IT systems in the industry rather than build one big mainframe like customs has done. They will put in firewalls but feel that this arrangement will protect a company’s commercially sensitive data. With this arrangement, the risk assessment will be handled within the FF’s system and will not require an external interface.

TSA is aware that technology is not the complete decisions. They want to establish industry wide SOPs.

Timeline:
-Pilot Planning – now to December
-Pilot – October to January 07
-Pilot IT system development and test – October to February 07
-FAS Technology Pilot – February 07 to July 07

The TSA is keen on working with portals such as CPS.

There are even bigger differences between known shippers in the US and EU than there is within the EU.