WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has finally cleared up the backlog of Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) renewals and as of this week has suspended the carrier user fee contingency plan that was in place for the last three months.

As of the start of this week, all conveyances entering the United States are required to possess a valid transponder or user fee decal upon entry.

In the fall, CBP experienced problems trying to process carriers’ electronic renewals of transponders used to pay for U.S. border crossing fees.

At the time CBP struck a deal with the Canadian Trucking Alliance to keep 2008 transponders active while the issue was being resolved. CBP exempted those trucks from having to pay the $10.75 fee at the border as long as drivers provided proof of purchase of a new 2009 transponder or decal.

That contingency plan ended on Feb. 28.

This update does not affect the collection of per crossing/arrival fees for trucks that normally pay the fee each time they cross the border.