SSP Transportation Security Standards 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program?
- Inspecting all imported containers at US ports
- Creating a voluntary supply chain security partnership between CBP and trade stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Training customs agents in counter-terrorism tactics
- Establishing tariffs on high-risk cargo shipments
Correct answer: Creating a voluntary supply chain security partnership between CBP and trade stakeholders
C-TPAT is a voluntary public-private partnership where businesses implement supply chain security measures in exchange for expedited processing benefits.
Question 2: In aviation security, what is the significance of the 'last point of departure' (LPD) concept?
- It identifies the final airport before a flight enters US airspace, triggering enhanced screening requirements (Correct answer)
- It determines which airline is liable for lost baggage
- It designates the airport responsible for in-flight medical emergencies
- It marks where flight data recorders must be checked
Correct answer: It identifies the final airport before a flight enters US airspace, triggering enhanced screening requirements
The LPD concept requires that flights from the last airport before entering US airspace meet enhanced security standards for passengers and baggage.
Question 3: Which security measure is required under 49 CFR Part 1544 for air carriers operating under a full program?
- Publishing passenger manifests publicly
- Screening all passengers and accessible property before boarding (Correct answer)
- Installing GPS tracking on all aircraft
- Conducting random interviews of airline employees
Correct answer: Screening all passengers and accessible property before boarding
49 CFR 1544.201 requires air carriers operating under a full program to screen all passengers and their accessible property before boarding.
Question 4: What type of attack involves using a legitimate commercial vehicle as a weapon against a crowded transportation hub?
- Cyber-physical attack
- Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) or vehicle ramming attack (Correct answer)
- Insider threat incident
- Denial-of-service infrastructure attack
Correct answer: Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) or vehicle ramming attack
Vehicle ramming attacks and VBIEDs use commercial or personal vehicles as weapons against crowded areas, a recognized threat to transportation infrastructure.
Question 5: The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) framework categorizes transportation into how many subsectors?
- 3
- 5
- 7 (Correct answer)
- 11
Correct answer: 7
The NIPP Transportation Systems Sector is divided into 7 subsectors: aviation, highway and motor carrier, maritime, mass transit and passenger rail, pipeline, freight rail, and postal/shipping.
Question 6: What is 'sterile area bypass,' and why is it a critical security concern?
- A maintenance shortcut through cargo areas, posing contamination risk
- Unauthorized access to the post-screening zone without passing through security, which defeats the integrity of screening (Correct answer)
- An approved procedure for diplomats with immunity
- A fire evacuation route that circumvents normal exit procedures
Correct answer: Unauthorized access to the post-screening zone without passing through security, which defeats the integrity of screening
Sterile area bypass allows an unscreened person to access the secure zone, potentially introducing prohibited items past the security checkpoint.
Question 7: Which federal program coordinates security for the nation's highway and motor carrier transportation subsector?
- TSA Surface Division and FMCSA jointly (Correct answer)
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- Coast Guard Maritime Intelligence Fusion Centers
- Amtrak Police Department
Correct answer: TSA Surface Division and FMCSA jointly
TSA's Surface Division and FMCSA share responsibility for highway and motor carrier security, including hazmat transport and driver licensing.
SSP Transportation Security Standards 4
What is the primary purpose of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program?