As part of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Program, carriers receive expedited clearance into the U.S. in exchange for undertaking security improvements in their operations and personnel screening.  In order for a shipment to qualify for C-TPAT special handling, all parties to the transaction, including the shipper, carrier, importer, and consignee must be C-TPAT participants and ensure that all relevant procedures are followed.  As part of C-TPAT's cargo securement regulations, all trailers must be sealed with an International Standards Organization Standard 17712 (ISO 17712) compliant seal.  The seal cannot be broken without proper documentation, or the consignee must decline the load or risk being suspended from the C-TPAT program.

In the course of their regular highway load securement inspections, police officers were entering C-TPAT trailers and breaking the ISO 17712 seals.  Unfortunately, these trailers were then ineligible for delivery to C-TPAT consignees after being opened.  In 2007 and 2008, ATA worked with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) Transportation Security Committee to develop a seals policy.  The CVSA is an organization that sets standards for police officers from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico specializing in commercial vehicle safety.  ATA asked CVSA to develop a Seals and Inspection Policy that would be allow the inspectors to investigate trucks and provide the chain of custody documentation necessary to delivery the C-TPAT cargo.  In June 2008, the CVSA approved a seals policy and disseminated it to its membership across North America.  This policy preserves the essential chain of custody and allows carriers hauling C-TPAT cargo to undergo inspections without risk of having their load rejected.