Who is Eligible to Join the CTPAT Program?
1. U.S. Importers of Record.
Companies in the U.S. that are either the importer of record and/or the consignee, regardless of the cargo’s value or the type of cargo (raw materials, finished product, samples, returns, public relations or packing materials).
2. U.S./Canada Highway Carriers.
The CTPAT program is a requirement for the FAST (Free And Secure Trade) program. The FAST program is a bilateral initiative between the United States and Canada designed to ensure security and safety.
Two of the benefits are: A) Using dedicated lanes for greater speed and efficiency in the clearance of FAST transborder shipments and B) reducing the number of examinations.
Canadians Highway Carriers can join the CTPAT program if:
- The carrier is an active U.S. /Canadian Highway Carrier that transports cargo that is being imported into the United States; and
- They have a business office staffed in the U.S. or Canada; and
- They have an active U.S. National Motor Freight Traffic Association issued Standard Carrier Alpha Code in format. Learn More
3. U.S./Mexico Highway Carriers.
The CTPAT program is a requirement for the FAST (Free And Secure Trade) program. The FAST program is a bilateral initiative between the United States and Mexico designed to ensure security and safety. Two of the benefits are: dedicated lanes for greater speed and efficiency in the clearance of FAST transborder shipments; and reducing the number of examinations.
Mexican Highway Carriers can join the CTPAT program if:
- The carrier is an active U.S. /Mexican Highway Carrier that transports cargo that is being imported into the United States; and
- They have a business office staffed in the U.S. or Mexico; and
- They have an active U.S. National Motor Freight Traffic Association issued Standard Carrier Alpha Code in format. Learn More
4. Rail Carriers.
5. Sea Carriers.
6. Air Carriers.
7. U.S.Marine Port Authority/Terminal Operators.
8. U.S. Air Freight Consolidators, Ocean Transportation Intermediaries and Non-Vessel Operation Common Carriers (“NVOCC”).
Air freight consolidators, ocean transportation intermediaries and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCC) must possess a valid continuous international carrier bond and/or in bond/export consolidator bond (IBEC) registered with US Customs & Border Protection (CBP). Click here to learn more about our CTPAT Insurance Bonds.
9. Mexican Manufacturers.
Mexican Companies can join the CTPAT program if:
- The Mexican firm has an active U.S. Customs and Border Protection Manufacturer Identification (MID) number.
- The Mexican firm is an active legitimate Mexican manufacturer and is incorporated in Mexico. Mexico is the country of origin.
10. Canadian Manufacturers.
Canadian Companies can join the CTPAT program if:
- They have an American Division that has an U.S. Importer of Record Number (“IOR”); or
- The Canadian firm has an active U.S. Customs and Border Protection Manufacturer Identification (MID) number; or
- The Canadian firm is neither of the above but is an active legitimate Canadian manufacturer and is incorporated in Canada. Canada is the country of origin.
11. Certain Invited Foreign Manufacturers.
12. Licensed U.S. Customers Brokers.
Companies not eligible to join the CTPAT program but must be compliant?
- Third Party Warehouses.
- Container Freight Stations (Bonded or Not).
- American Carriers that neither cross the Mexican nor the Canadian border.
- Consolidator/stuffing facilities
- Foreign Manufacturing facilities.
Norman Jaspan Associates, Inc prepares CTPAT security profiles for clients. If you are compliant and presently not eligible to join the CTPAT program, you do not post the security profile to the U.S. Customs website. Despite the fact that the security profile is not posted to the U.S. Customs website, the security profile enables our client to demonstrate to the importer and/or the service provider and/or U.S. Customs (if the company is being inspected on behalf of the importer or service provider for validation) that they are meeting the requirements of the CTPAT program. In addition, the security profile, which demonstrates CTPAT compliance, will enable the service provider to maintain market share by being able to solicit business with companies that prefer to do business with service providers that are CTPAT members or CTPAT compliant.