Meeting the deadline
With 100% screening of cargo on all US domestic and US-origin international shipments in force since yesterday, Thomas Puglisi, Kuehne + Nagels VP for Airfreight Operations in the US, explains how the forwarder is meeting the new guidelines
IFW: What efforts has K+N made to meet the 100% cargo screening regulations?
Puglisi: We have made significant investments in personnel, equipment, training and systems in order to meet the 100% deadline. Our initiative began several years ago, culminating in certification approximately two years ago and, ultimately, in physical screening that has been ongoing for approximately a year.
IFW: How is screening for cargo achieved on domestic and US outbound flights?
Puglisi: There is a clear and distinct segmentation of programme. Cargo screening for US outbound consignments on passenger aircraft is achieved either by the airlines, forwarders and/or shippers. The latter two execute these activities under the Transportation Security Administration‘s CCSP (Certified Cargo Screening Programme). For this, K+N has worked collaboratively with the TSA, various other government entities and our customers to ensure all deadlines were and are going to be met.
IFW: Do you think the new ruling favours the larger logistics providers that are able to buy in the correct screening equipment?
Puglisi: Not specifically. Under the CCSP, there are many avenues by which small- to mid-size shippers and forwarders could have and can participate in the programme, many of which are not specifically cost-prohibitive. This is evidenced by the fact that many entities of varying sizes have already been certified and are actively screening. These certified entities include shippers and forwarders of all sizes.
IFW: Have you started the process of screening cargo on US inbound flights, something the TSA has insisted it will enforce in the coming years?
Puglisi: Cargo screening for shipments inbound to the US is managed, at this stage, only by the airlines, as there is no similar CCSP available outside the US.
IFW: When would you expect to be able to guarantee that all US-bound cargo on passenger aircraft has been screened?
Puglisi: The US inbound programme is not administered by the TSA to the forwarding community, but rather between the TSA and the airlines. Kuehne + Nagel cannot presume or make any guarantees or assumptions on specific deadlines or expectations.
Puglisi: We have made significant investments in personnel, equipment, training and systems in order to meet the 100% deadline. Our initiative began several years ago, culminating in certification approximately two years ago and, ultimately, in physical screening that has been ongoing for approximately a year.
IFW: How is screening for cargo achieved on domestic and US outbound flights?
Puglisi: There is a clear and distinct segmentation of programme. Cargo screening for US outbound consignments on passenger aircraft is achieved either by the airlines, forwarders and/or shippers. The latter two execute these activities under the Transportation Security Administration‘s CCSP (Certified Cargo Screening Programme). For this, K+N has worked collaboratively with the TSA, various other government entities and our customers to ensure all deadlines were and are going to be met.
IFW: Do you think the new ruling favours the larger logistics providers that are able to buy in the correct screening equipment?
Puglisi: Not specifically. Under the CCSP, there are many avenues by which small- to mid-size shippers and forwarders could have and can participate in the programme, many of which are not specifically cost-prohibitive. This is evidenced by the fact that many entities of varying sizes have already been certified and are actively screening. These certified entities include shippers and forwarders of all sizes.
IFW: Have you started the process of screening cargo on US inbound flights, something the TSA has insisted it will enforce in the coming years?
Puglisi: Cargo screening for shipments inbound to the US is managed, at this stage, only by the airlines, as there is no similar CCSP available outside the US.
IFW: When would you expect to be able to guarantee that all US-bound cargo on passenger aircraft has been screened?
Puglisi: The US inbound programme is not administered by the TSA to the forwarding community, but rather between the TSA and the airlines. Kuehne + Nagel cannot presume or make any guarantees or assumptions on specific deadlines or expectations.
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