Read about it in Trade & Forfaiting Review HERE.
Read about it in Eye For Transport HERE.
Read about it in The Logistics & Supply Chain Forum HERE.
Read about it in Logistics Management HERE.

May 7, 2003 -
TradePoint First to Release FAST Software

TradePoint Systems LLC has become the first, and is currently the only IT systems provider, to offer carriers and importers a commercially available software application to facilitate the movement of trucks through many of the US/Canada border entry points utilizing the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lane processing system. TradePoint markets the new product under the name of FASTPoint.

The FAST program is a key component of the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) initiative. The program is a bilateral initiative between the United States and Canada designed to ensure security and safety, while enhancing the economic prosperity of both countries. The initiative's objectives promise to revolutionize the processing of trans-border trade. The FAST program allows those carriers and importers on the US/Canada border who are enrolled in C-TPAT or Canada's Partners in Protection (PIP) initiatives to obtain expedited release for qualifying commercial shipments. This will promote free and secure trade by using common risk-management principles, supply chain security, industry partnership, and advanced technology to improve the efficiency of screening and clearing commercial traffic at our shared border.

TradePoint Systems has a number of clients live on the new FASTPoint system, including General Motors Corporation. Gilbert S. Duhn Jr., Customs Administrator of General Motors (GM) made the following statement: "The FAST software developed by TradePoint has allowed General Motor's carriers to improve their productivity by providing manifest data in advance to Us Customs and Border Protection. Pre-approval by Us Customs and Border Protection of the shippers, carriers, importer, broker, consignees and tariff classification of the goods gives Customs advanced information for their enforcement responsibilities. We can clear up to seventy shipments on one truck using a bar code containing the Trip number or with the transponder in less than 30 seconds! We are currently clearing approximately 3700 shipments each week using this process in Detroit and Port Huron. The carriers for these types of loads would typically spend 2-4 hours at the border having their paperwork processed. With FAST there is no paper, only the electronic transaction data and the pre-approved account data. Our carriers are better able to utilize their equipment and drivers by reducing the border wait time by several hours. Customs is able to process the shipments much faster with a higher level of confidence on these FAST loads. This allows Customs to spend their time saved looking at the more risky shipments. We were also able to take the release message from Customs which includes the ship from DUNS and SID (Shipment ID number) to import our Advance Shipment Notice (ASN) from the shipper, append purchase order price, tariff classifications, weight, country of origin, and NAFTA eligibility to populate the Customs Entry. The entire process has been automated using the TradePoint FASTPoint solution. Every other expedited release option (i.e. Brass, Paps) is bar code supported, and only 5 bar codes will be scanned at primary. More than five bar codes and the driver has to park and get into Customs for a stand in line for scanning. These delays cost money. Additionally, if there is ever a code RED issued by Homeland Security, only the FAST shipments will get through the border. They will be prioritized by the Customs Service and the Bridge and Port Authorities. FAST shipments will have a special placard indicating they are FAST and the Bridge will pull the carriers out of line and move to the front of the line for processing. This is to encourage all carriers to participate with their clients. The day will come if you are not FAST you will be VERY SLOW."

Ken Halle, Executive VP & COO at TradePoint said, "We continue to strive to be the first to market with new initiatives to demonstrate to our customers that they can reliably leave their future systems needs to us."

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