CCSP Known Shipper & Indirect Air Carrier Programs 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What must an IAC do immediately upon discovering a prohibited item in cargo that has already been tendered to an air carrier?
- Return the cargo to the original shipper and document the incident internally
- Notify the air carrier and TSA immediately so appropriate action can be taken (Correct answer)
- Hold all subsequent shipments from that shipper for 30 days
- File a report with U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 24 hours
Correct answer: Notify the air carrier and TSA immediately so appropriate action can be taken
When a prohibited item is discovered in already-tendered cargo, the IAC must immediately notify both the receiving air carrier and TSA to allow for rapid response and removal from the aircraft.
Question 2: What happens to an IAC's known shipper database entries when a shipper's status is revoked by TSA?
- The IAC has 30 days to re-verify the shipper before stopping acceptance
- The IAC must immediately cease accepting cargo from that shipper until status is formally reinstated (Correct answer)
- The IAC may continue accepting cargo but must screen 50% of shipments
- Only shipments over 100 lbs are affected by the revocation
Correct answer: The IAC must immediately cease accepting cargo from that shipper until status is formally reinstated
When TSA revokes a shipper's known status in the KSMS, the IAC must immediately stop treating that entity as a known shipper and require screening of all cargo from them.
Question 3: Which employees at an IAC are required to undergo a TSA Security Threat Assessment (STA)?
- Only the Security Coordinator and executive-level management
- All employees who have unescorted access to cargo or security-sensitive areas (Correct answer)
- Only employees who handle international cargo shipments
- All employees hired after the IAC's security program approval date
Correct answer: All employees who have unescorted access to cargo or security-sensitive areas
TSA requires all IAC employees with unescorted access to cargo or security-sensitive areas to complete a Security Threat Assessment to verify they do not pose a risk.
Question 4: Under the IAC Standard Security Program, which of the following is NOT a required element of employee security training?
- How to identify signs of tampering on cargo
- Procedures for handling cargo from unknown shippers
- How to perform advanced explosive trace detection testing (Correct answer)
- How to recognize and report suspicious activity
Correct answer: How to perform advanced explosive trace detection testing
Employee security training covers identification of tampering, handling unknown-shipper cargo, and reporting suspicious activity, but advanced explosive trace detection is performed by trained screening personnel, not general IAC employees.
Question 5: What document forms the legal foundation for an IAC's security obligations to TSA?
- The IAC's internal cargo handling manual
- The TSA-approved IAC Standard Security Program (SSP) (Correct answer)
- The air carrier's published tariff and cargo acceptance policy
- A bilateral agreement between the IAC and the Department of Homeland Security
Correct answer: The TSA-approved IAC Standard Security Program (SSP)
The IAC Standard Security Program (SSP), approved by TSA, is the binding document that establishes all security obligations and procedures the IAC must follow.
Question 6: How does the CCSP (Certified Cargo Screening Program) differ from the Known Shipper Program?
- The CCSP covers international cargo only, while the Known Shipper Program is domestic
- The CCSP certifies facilities to physically screen cargo, while the Known Shipper Program vets the identity and reliability of shippers (Correct answer)
- The CCSP is voluntary, while participation in the Known Shipper Program is mandatory for all shippers
- There is no meaningful difference; both programs serve identical security functions
Correct answer: The CCSP certifies facilities to physically screen cargo, while the Known Shipper Program vets the identity and reliability of shippers
The CCSP certifies facilities that physically screen cargo to TSA standards, while the Known Shipper Program is an identity and vetting system that determines which shippers may tender unscreened cargo to IACs.
Question 7: When an IAC accepts cargo from a known shipper, what must accompany the shipment to document the shipper's status?
- A TSA Form 415 signed by the shipper
- A cargo manifest or airway bill with shipper certification indicating known shipper status (Correct answer)
- A notarized letter from the shipper's legal department
- A copy of the shipper's KSMS enrollment confirmation number
Correct answer: A cargo manifest or airway bill with shipper certification indicating known shipper status
Cargo from a known shipper must be accompanied by documentation such as a cargo manifest or airway bill that includes the shipper's certification and allows the chain of custody to be tracked.
CCSP Known Shipper & Indirect Air Carrier Programs 2
What must an IAC do immediately upon discovering a prohibited item in cargo that has already been tendered to an air carrier?