Advisories

ACAS – Enhanced Security Directive for US Bound Air Shipments Advisory

8/29/2024

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently published data collection “enhancements” to the current Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program. ACAS data provided by foreign carriers and freight forwarders identifies parties involved in air cargo shipments prior to being loaded on board a U.S. bound aircraft. ACAS data is used by CBP for targeting and cargo interdiction to keep international supply chains safe.

The updated enhancements require transmission of additional data elements pertaining to the foreign cargo shipper, the shipper’s current business relationship with the air carrier and/or air freight forwarder, and the companies that screen air cargo bound for the U.S. This new data has not been captured in previous ACAS transmissions, but CBP has completed its programming to accept it and has published the new requirements.

CBP’s announcement of the ACAS updates was made with little advance notice and with the expectation that the new data will be collected from foreign air carriers and forwarders quickly. CBP acknowledges the public’s concerns about the compressed timing and is offering a high level of support to the national organizations that represent air carriers and air freight forwarders.

The situation is fluid, and we can expect news updates (and rumors) to circulate daily. You should be prepared to experience various forms of shipment disruption, such as carrier booking constraints, additional carrier requirements, cargo inspections, and shipment delays. Unfortunately, there is little Lynden can do to influence these events, but we must work with all our partners professionally and collaboratively to minimize the impacts to our business relationships. We continue to stay informed of new developments and will provide new information of interest via this advisory whenever received.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Lynden at 800-926-5703 or via this website’s Contact Us page.

Thank you for choosing Lynden Logistics as your trusted transportation partner.

Sincerely,

Lynden Logistics