International Border Crossing Program

Electronic Screening

Transportation Border Working Group November 1, 2011

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FMCSA Priorities and Goals

 Priorities  Raise the bar   Maintain high safety standards Remove high-risk carriers  Strategic Plan 2006-2011  Advance Electronic Safety and Credential Monitoring to Facilitate International Traffic Flow at our Nation's Borders

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Safety and Compliance Requirements

 FMCSA  Driver Credentials    Equipment fitness Federal operating authority status Proof of insurance/appropriate coverage  Border State    Vehicle registration status Size and weight limitations Other State-specific requirements

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Determining Which Vehicles to Inspect

 Current screening is manual  Limits coverage  Time consuming  Based on:     Inspectors’ knowledge of specific carriers Visual check of obvious physical defects Limited conversation with driver Random selection

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International Border Screening Program

 Phase I – Demonstration of Concept – Completed 2007  Phase II – Analysis of Demonstration – Completed 2009  Phase III – Field Operational Test – Started June 2011   Awarded contract to Battelle Memorial Institute. Team includes: Texas Transportation Institute, Kentucky Transportation Center, University of Washington DOT’s Volpe Center supporting project management and acquisition and installation of required equipment at border sites

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Enhancing the Screening Process

 International Border Crossing (IBC) e-Screening concept  Use of radio frequency identification device (RFID) transponders to identify drivers and vehicles  RFID technology selected because 90% of trucks entering the U.S. are equipped

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Phase I – IBC E-Screening Demonstration

 Demonstrated at Santa Teresa, NM port of entry - Low volume (120-140 trips per day) - Staffed 80% of time - Ideal environment for testing and evaluation   14 carriers participated Vehicles screened to validate: - Currency of CVSA decal and truck registration - Federal operating authority status of carrier - Current insurance - Driver tags/commercial drivers license status  Over 5,500 transponder reads in demo

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Major Findings

 Technology performed reliably (99% accurate)  Reduced processing time for selection for inspection (1 sec vs. 15 min.)  Increased number of vehicles subject to inspection (237/month baseline vs. 965/month during demo)  Focused limited enforcement resources  Reduces processing for compliant vehicles

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Limitations of Concept

 Currency of CVSA decal  On-site enrollment is time consuming and limiting  No way to identify trailer electronically verify compliance  All drivers did not have ID cards  Screening decision displayed only inside facility

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Phase II – Analyses of Demonstration

 Utilizing International Trade Data System (ITDS) shared by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with FMCSA  Identify carrier, truck, trailer, and driver   Eliminate need for on site enrollment Tied to other data sources  Screen on more than 20 factors of interest  Requirements analysis in seven border States  Analysis of 20 ports of entry  Developed system requirements

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Phase III – Field Operational Test

 Deployment and testing of IBC e-Screening system at 4 border locations  Development of partnerships with States and Customs and Border Protection  Conduct outreach with stakeholders to deploy system nationally  Ensure user needs are met

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Questions?

Chris Flanigan Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology (202) 385-2384 [email protected]

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