CCSP Known Shipper & Indirect Air Carrier Programs 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is an Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) in the context of air cargo security?
- An airline that operates international routes only
- A company that tenders cargo to airlines but does not operate aircraft (Correct answer)
- A government agency that certifies air cargo facilities
- A certified cargo screening facility approved by TSA
Correct answer: A company that tenders cargo to airlines but does not operate aircraft
An IAC is any entity that accepts cargo for air transportation and tenders it to an air carrier without operating aircraft itself, such as freight forwarders.
Question 2: Which federal regulation specifically governs the security requirements for Indirect Air Carriers?
- 49 CFR Part 1540
- 49 CFR Part 1544
- 49 CFR Part 1548 (Correct answer)
- 49 CFR Part 1552
Correct answer: 49 CFR Part 1548
49 CFR Part 1548 establishes security requirements for indirect air carriers that engage in air transportation of property, including the Standard Security Program requirements.
Question 3: What is the Known Shipper Management System (KSMS)?
- A manual paper-based log maintained by each freight forwarder
- A TSA-managed electronic database that validates and maintains records of vetted known shippers (Correct answer)
- A private industry database owned and operated by air carriers
- A U.S. Customs system for tracking international cargo importers
Correct answer: A TSA-managed electronic database that validates and maintains records of vetted known shippers
The KSMS is a TSA-managed electronic system that stores and validates known shipper information, allowing IACs to verify shipper status before accepting cargo.
Question 4: What criteria must a shipper meet to be classified as a 'known shipper' under TSA requirements?
- The shipper must be a U.S. government-registered entity
- The shipper must have tendered cargo at least once in the past 12 months
- The shipper must have an established business relationship and be vetted through the KSMS process (Correct answer)
- The shipper must be a publicly traded company with verifiable financial records
Correct answer: The shipper must have an established business relationship and be vetted through the KSMS process
A known shipper must have an established business relationship with the IAC and be validated through the KSMS vetting process before cargo can be accepted without full screening.
Question 5: Under TSA regulations, how long must an IAC retain records of cargo accepted from known shippers?
- 90 days
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 2 years
Under 49 CFR Part 1548, IACs are required to maintain cargo acceptance records for a minimum of two years for TSA inspection purposes.
Question 6: What is the primary security obligation of an IAC when accepting cargo from an unknown shipper?
- Verify the shipper's state business license and tax ID
- Ensure the cargo is screened before tendering it to an air carrier (Correct answer)
- Obtain written approval from TSA prior to acceptance
- Require two forms of government-issued identification from the shipper
Correct answer: Ensure the cargo is screened before tendering it to an air carrier
Cargo from unknown shippers must be screened before an IAC can tender it to an air carrier, as unknown shippers have not been vetted through the KSMS.
Question 7: Which position within an IAC organization is directly responsible for implementing and maintaining the TSA-approved Standard Security Program?
- Chief Executive Officer
- Security Coordinator (SC) (Correct answer)
- Cargo Operations Manager
- TSA Compliance Auditor
Correct answer: Security Coordinator (SC)
The Security Coordinator (SC) is the designated individual responsible for implementing the IAC's Standard Security Program and serving as the primary TSA point of contact.
CCSP Known Shipper & Indirect Air Carrier Programs 1
What is an Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) in the context of air cargo security?