CCSP Chain of Custody & Documentation Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under TSA regulations, how long must an Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) retain chain of custody documentation for screened cargo?
- 30 days
- 60 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
- 180 days
Correct answer: 60 days
TSA requires Indirect Air Carriers to retain cargo security documentation, including chain of custody records, for a minimum of 60 days.
Question 2: Which document serves as the primary instrument for transferring legal responsibility of screened cargo between a Certified Cargo Screening Facility (CCSF) and an air carrier?
- Cargo manifest
- Chain of custody transfer form (Correct answer)
- Airway bill
- Packing declaration
Correct answer: Chain of custody transfer form
The chain of custody transfer form formally documents and transfers legal responsibility for screened cargo from the CCSF to the receiving air carrier.
Question 3: A CCSF employee discovers that a shipment's tamper-evident seal is broken upon receipt. What is the correct immediate action?
- Re-screen the cargo and apply a new seal (Correct answer)
- Accept the cargo and note the discrepancy on the manifest
- Reject the cargo and notify the shipper
- Escalate to TSA within 24 hours
Correct answer: Re-screen the cargo and apply a new seal
Broken tamper-evident seals indicate a potential chain of custody breach, requiring the cargo to be re-screened before a new seal is applied.
Question 4: What information is NOT typically required on a CCSP screening record?
- Screener's employee ID
- Screening method used
- Cargo owner's insurance policy number (Correct answer)
- Date and time of screening
Correct answer: Cargo owner's insurance policy number
Insurance policy numbers are not a required element of CCSP screening documentation; the focus is on screener identity, method, and timing.
Question 5: When cargo is transferred between two CCSFs before reaching an air carrier, how many chain of custody handoff records must be generated?
- One consolidated record
- Two separate handoff records (Correct answer)
- Three records including the final air carrier handoff
- None if both facilities are TSA-certified
Correct answer: Two separate handoff records
Each physical transfer of custody between entities requires its own handoff record, so two CCSF-to-CCSF transfers generate two separate records.
Question 6: Which party bears primary responsibility for ensuring cargo remains secure between CCSF screening and delivery to the aircraft?
- The freight forwarder
- The originating shipper
- The entity currently holding custody (Correct answer)
- TSA oversight inspectors
Correct answer: The entity currently holding custody
Accountability follows custody — whichever entity currently holds the cargo is responsible for maintaining its security and documentation.
Question 7: A CCSF uses a dual-key lock on a screened cargo container. What does this security measure primarily protect against in terms of documentation?
- Falsification of weight records
- Unauthorized access that would invalidate the screening record (Correct answer)
- Loss of the airway bill
- Duplicate shipment entries
Correct answer: Unauthorized access that would invalidate the screening record
Dual-key locks prevent unauthorized access, which would compromise the screening's validity and require new documentation if the seal were broken.
CCSP Chain of Custody & Documentation Standards 2
Under TSA regulations, how long must an Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) retain chain of custody documentation for screened cargo?