DHL Prepares Pharmaceutical Shippers for Cargo Screening

DHL in partnership with American Airlines Cargo, is supporting pharmaceutical industry customers to prepare for the implementation of a US regulation that foresees 100 percent piece level screening of cargo carried on passenger aircraft. With half a year to go before the regulation takes effect, which could cause major delays of shipments, both companies have started offering joint trainings to educate pharmaceutical customers on how best to comply with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP).

The training includes discussion on the required process for becoming a Certified Cargo Screening Facility (CCSF). Facilities that volunteer to participate in the CCSP program will be able to tender cargo directly to a passenger air carrier or freight forwarder.

The first training session took place in Dallas, Texas, and focused on the operational flow of cargo through the airline's network, piece level screening and the impact to handling processes when the 100 percent screening mandates take effect.

Participating customers were required to take the Security Sensitive Information (SSI) course prior to attending the training, as this would help ensure that the details of the program could be openly discussed.

Both companies committed to supporting the TSA's program with technology investments for Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) and annually recurrent training of all personnel working with the screening process.

DHL, www.dhl.com