OTTAWA — Canadian Trucking Alliance boss David Bradley says all links in the trade chain need be clear on their obligations for the more stringent C-TPAT rules, so that trucking carriers are not called upon to do the work of others.

“Over the next several months, C-TPAT carriers will be examining their security protocols in light of the new, more stringent requirements imposed by CBP,” said Bradley. “Ideally, the measures put in place by carriers will mesh seamlessly with those of their C-TPAT clients, ensuring an unbroken chain.”

The obligations falling on C-TPAT carriers are significant, but they do not replace those of other trade chain partners, according to says Bradley.

Carriers and shippers have to outline C-TPAT responsibilities: CTA

Earlier this year, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued updated security criteria for truck carriers under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT.

In March CBP announced highway carriers wanting to join C-TPAT will need to meet or exceed the security criteria before they will be “certified” and eligible for benefits. Applications for new membership are now only accepted electronically, via the C-TPAT web-based online application for highway carriers.

Existing C-TPAT member carriers, a gradual, phased implementation approach will be followed which provides existing members more time to address the security measures outlined in the criteria. (Follow Related Stories link below for more on this).

However, certain requirements, says Bradley, notably the placement of high security seals on US-bound trailers, appear in both carrier and importer security criteria published by CBP.

“Carriers have concerns over the extent to which they, versus the shipper, are responsible for sealing loaded trailers, for example,” said Bradley. “Mundane as it may seem, this raises important operational issues, and I am hopeful that other trade chain partners will recognize where their obligations lie and not seek to get carriers to assume additional responsibilities at no cost.”

Recently, CTA wrote to major shipper groups in the automotive trade reminding them of their members’ responsibilities, and urging them to work with their carriers.