JAS Forwarding (USA) is now using the cloud-based Descartes Air Cargo Advance Screening (Descartes ACAS) solution to provide enhanced security for air cargo coming into the United States. Descartes Systems Group is a global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce.
The ACAS initiative was created by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to gather data concerning the parties and commodities involved in air cargo before its loading on an aircraft at a foreign port. The initiative currently is in the pilot phase, allowing CBP to collaborate with the air industry to determine the most effective means of achieving the desired regulatory results without affecting the speed of air cargo operations. CBP has extended the ACAS pilot program through July 26, and subsequent approval of mandatory compliance with ACAS is expected.
“Technology innovation remains a cornerstone of our mission to ensure worldwide transparency and an efficient supply chain for our customers by delivering their cargo on time and securely,” says Laurie Arnold, regulatory compliance officer at JAS Forwarding (USA). “With the Descartes solution, we’re not only an early adopter of the ACAS pilot program but are sharing information with CBP further back in the supply chain to help identify high-risk air shipments into the U.S., while accelerating the movement of low-risk shipments.”
The Descartes ACAS solution uses the Descartes Global Logistics Network (Descartes GLN) to collect house bill information directly from forwarders’ enterprise systems to file directly to CBP without any manual intervention, thereby increasing data quality and velocity. The solution performs automatic validation against reference data to help ensure accuracy. Air forwarders also have the option to use the web-based user interface to add new or update existing required information.
The majority of ACAS pilot participants consists of airlines and express carriers, but has lacked forwarder participation. “Representing the forwarder community, we want the chance to help write the rules before we are brought under its requirements,” says Arnold. “In addition, any ACAS rule should maintain a level playing field for all filers. No requirement should create an unfair competitive business advantage for one filer over another.”
“We’re pleased to help progressive forwarders, like JAS Forwarding (USA), participate in the ACAS pilot and enhance readiness for the regulation when it is issued,” says Scott Sangster, vice president of the Global Logistics Network at Descartes. “Descartes has a strong history in providing the air cargo industry with customs and security filing systems, and with our ACAS solution, we worked in close cooperation with leading forwarders, CBP and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to help forwarders of all sizes quickly and easily participate in the pilot program.”
