International Border Crossing Program Electronic Screening

1. International Border Crossing Program Electronic Screening Transportation Border Working Group November 1, 2011

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Questions? Chris Flanigan Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology (202) 385-2384 Chris.Flanigan@dot.gov