Office of Research and Information Technology

International Border Crossing ProgramElectronic Screening

Transportation Border Working GroupNovember 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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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

Safety and Compliance Requirements

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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

Determining Which Vehicles to Inspect

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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

International Border Screening Program

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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

Enhancing the Screening Process

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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

Phase I – IBC E-Screening Demonstration

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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

Major Findings

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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

Limitations of Concept

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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

Phase II – Analyses of Demonstration

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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

Phase III – Field Operational Test

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Chris Flanigan

Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology

(202) 385-2384

Chris.Flanigan@dot.gov

Questions?