TORONTO — The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) met with Alan Bersin, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), earlier this week to discuss several border issues that have been affecting carriers and congestion at trade gateways.

In a press release, the CTA said they were encouraged with Bersin’s willingness to examine the issues that have been plaguing Canadian carriers operating in the U.S.

The CTA spoke with Bersin regarding a multitude of issues, including: the requirment that all liquid cargo residues in empty tanker trailers be manifested prior to entering the U.S.; the repositioning of empty foreign trailers by Canadian-based drivers engaged in international commerce; re-establising the once-common practice of in-transit domestic shipments which travel through parts of the U.S. in between two Canadian points; and mutual recognition and harmonization of trusted trader programs between Canada and the U.S.

Bersin was receptive to the CTA’s concerns on that last issue, and told the CTA that solutions would be outlined in the soon to be announced "Beyond the Border" security initiative.

CTA said that Bersin hinted at streamlining aspects of the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, the Canadian Partners ion Protection (PIP), and the bi-national Free And Secure Trade (FAST) program. Bersin also pointed to new pre-inspection and pre-clearance measures for credentialed transporters, however, the CTA said Bersin emphasized seeing more carriers and shippers certified under these voluntary trusted trader programs.

David Bradley, CTA president, said that Bersin "seemed to share our opinion that the best way to approach security is to isolate the bad guys and let certified trusted carriers move across the border more quickly."

The CTA also said that headway was made on the issues of giving more flexibility in re-positioning foreign empty trailers, and examining different approaches towards in-transit shipments and residue reporting requirements for trusted traders.

While the meeting encouraged the CTA, Bradley added "the proof will be in the pudding when the Better Borders Working Group makes its report in the near future.”