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C-TPAT: Just how important is it to your business?
- Thread starter Michael Ludwig
- Start date
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We get the C-TPAT forms to fill out from some of our carriers. We are in an office space with no warehouse so is this something that we need to fill out?
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If you were C-TPAT you could just send your certificate. I'm not sure that freight brokers can become C-TPAT
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It is my understanding that they can't. But for a carrier who wishes to be C-TPAT registered, they must send that form to all of the partners they use such as customers, shippers, other carriers and brokers. As a broker, we receive the forms regularly and fill them out to the best of our ability, indicating where necessary, what is not applicable, such as trailer and shipment control, load shortages, etc, etc. In addition, we have quite a few customers who require that the carriers we use be C-TPAT registered. It is my impression that for a carrier, having it would be beneficial.
Shakey
Site Supporter
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Not worth anything to us, but we are CTPAT cert. I like the idea of sealing trailers and inspecting but other than that I feel waste of money/time
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Think a 3PL only can't. Only way to be CTPAT is to have trucks ( or truck ) physically crossing border. Warehouse or anything in Canada does not change anything.
On our side - we are mainly dealing with CTPAT customers so - we would be in big trouble!
On our side - we are mainly dealing with CTPAT customers so - we would be in big trouble!
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If you haven't already, you should read the new requirements in the new C-TPAT Release 2.0 . Very interesting read. Here's a few samples (pay close attention to the "musts" and "shoulds"):
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I can't believe you asked that Micheal lol Since all of this came into effect we are getting paid less and less. If it keeps up we'll be paying shippers to do the loads soon.
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The threat assessment is now mandatory it is a huge project and will significantly multiply the amount of time needed each year for certification. Has anyone completed this and uploaded to the website so far and if so any suggestions?
Thanks
Thanks
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Frankly, I don't think small-trucking-company-Canada can afford to be part of the process any longer. Many of the requirements distill down to employing a professional staff member which is going to cost over 100K annually by the time you add wages, taxes, benefits, and travel expenses ... yes, travel expenses ... part of the expectation is that each trucking company will go to each customer and shipping location, and inspect and audit the facility for security (no, I'm not kidding) ... Page one, bottom of the page, of the attached.
Common sense seems to have vacated this program and I'm thinking, unless a better solution comes along, it would cost us considerably less to voluntarily surrender our C-TPAT certification.
Common sense seems to have vacated this program and I'm thinking, unless a better solution comes along, it would cost us considerably less to voluntarily surrender our C-TPAT certification.
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It is absolutely not feasible for a small company to be C-TPAT. Larger companies may see some benefit, but small ones...never.
Money would be better invested in other areas for small companies.
Money would be better invested in other areas for small companies.
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If I were a small carrier (and I'm not a carrier or an expert on carrier matters) I'd probably limit myself to Canada only. Forget about the border. Hiring drivers becomes much easier too. Pick a couple of lanes you like to run and beat them for all they're worth. When I hit 100 trucks then I'd look at the border again.
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I can understand and appreciate the reluctance of "smaller" carriers (or any carrier for that matter) to become involved in the never ending and confusing aspects of government initiated border security programs. However, there does not seem to be an end in sight to these troublesome, costly initiatives, and for all we know, there could be more to come further down the pipeline. It becomes a strictly business decision whether or not you wish to participate. My fear is that more and more shippers will regard it as a mandatory condition for hauling their freight. Speaking as a broker, the last thing I want to see is fewer trucks available to haul the freight I have available, regardless of what the rates are. There will always be new hurdles in our industry, emission reductions for diesel engines, electronic logs, hours of service, etc., etc. It is how you can adapt and respond to them that will determine whether you plan to be around for another 20 years or not. Enjoy the long weekend, all of these distractions will still be here on Tuesday morning
We were members of C-TPAT and after 8 years, and 2 visits, for US customs to tell me how great a job we were"doing of their job" and after each visit they come out with a new level of requirements, as they couldn't find anything for us to improve on. The last request was for me to do a physical security profile on all my customers. I'm not sure if everyone in the program is working at the same level of requirements, I think not. But that was the icing on the cake. I send them a letter saying I would continue with the current level of security, but found the program lacking in financial benefit or of any other benefit, and if they so needed to remove us from the program then so be it. The bad guys are always the first ones registered in these type of programs anyway. We have now been out of the program for nearly 2 years, with no loss of work. We can still deliver to the USA Air Force base, and other similar places. The cost out weights the benefits 100 to 1
Bubba-one, we were in same boat. we were C-TPAT certified few years back. after first visit by couple of officers, they suggested to do few more things on the top of, what we start doing. we have cameras in the yard, 24 hours security, inspecting trailers, seals, you name what they require. one of our biggest customer did not even bother getting them C-TPAT. so next visit by same two officers, they are not happy with ( what they told us to do) and ask to cover every corner of yard with security cameras which was not feasible, on other hand, another trucking company next door, does not have 24 hour security but do have cameras covering out skirting as us and they get praise from officers, I believe there are double standards here. we end up leaving the program voluntarily and we did not loose any business.