It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that the supply chain industry is highly regulated. After all, when billions of dollars of cargo are on the line, there’s a lot that could go wrong without the proper guidelines.
That’s why our team spends so much time educating ourselves, staying up to date with the industry, and ensuring we have certifications to prove we know what we’re talking about. It takes hours of research, tests, classes, filling out forms, facility tours, and more to earn our certifications. Despite all that, we’ve realized not everyone knows what those certifications mean. That’s why we’re taking a deep dive into one of our key credentials—CTPAT certification.
What is CTPAT?
CTPAT stands for Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, and it’s part of the Custom and Border Patrol’s (CBP’s) cargo enforcement strategy. The program was formed in 2001, and since then, it’s grown to include over 11,400 members.
Essentially, CTPAT partners include organizations such as importers, carriers, licensed customs brokers, and other professionals who have close contact with imports. These partners keep an eye out for gaps in customs security. CTPAT organizations also have to demonstrate a commitment to various secure processes, including the development of action plans to address specific supply chain security concerns. It’s a lot of work, but in the end, participating in CTPAT means partners like TOC Logistics are doing their part to keep international cargo secure.
Benefits of Working with a CTPAT Partner
Once an organization has been approved as a CTPAT partner, they’re entitled to a wide range of benefits that they can pass on to their customers. Some of those include:
- Special access to the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Lanes at borders on land
- Shorter wait times at borders
- Fewer CBP examinations
- Priority for resuming business after a natural disaster or terrorist attack
- Font-of-the-line inspections
- And a lot more!
These benefits can directly impact customer shipments by cutting down on wait times and accelerating shipments. Plus, as mentioned above, if disaster strikes, CTPAT partners are among the first to start up business again. These customer perks inspired our team to become a CTPAT partner. After all, it’s our goal to get our customers’ cargo to its destination in the fastest, most efficient way possible.
Curious about how your organization can benefit from our CTPAT partner status? Reach out to our team today. We’d love to learn more about your supply chain needs.