In response to the terrorist attacks on the United States in
2001, the Customs and Border Protection agency challenged the trade community to
partner with the government and design a program that would improve supply
chain security and keep the country safe. The result is the Customs-Trade
Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT, established in November 2011. This
voluntary program increases security measures, practices and procedures in all
sectors of the global supply chain.
As part of the process, tractors and trailers must be
searched at logistics facilities to ensure the cargo is legitimate and hasn’t
been loaded with contraband. Many warehouses and distribution centers hire
security guards to perform these inspections, which entails thorough examinations
of the entire trailer, including the bumper, engine, tires, floorboard, fuel
tanks, cab, sides, undercarriage and roof/ceiling.
With winter weather upon us, this task can become
challenging for the guards. Plummeting temperatures, blustering winds and
blizzard conditions can often hinder a guard’s ability to remain vigilant. If
it’s pouring rain or snow, what are the odds your guard is climbing on top of
every trailer that enters and exits your facility? Can you really ensure that your
guard is inspecting to recognize a breach and not just waving a driver through?
Stealth Monitoring’s remote video surveillance is an
effective solution to ensure compliance with the C-TPAT program in even the
harshest conditions. Our trained security operators can watch strategically
placed cameras in real time to perform the majority of the trailer inspections,
safely from one of our remote monitoring centers. The only task your guard may
need to do the manual view, verify, tug and twist of the seal.
In addition to C-TPAT inspections, Stealth’s access control
and gate solutions can verify drivers’ credentials, provide time-stamped
footage for reports and control who enters and exits your property. This
value-added feature can work in conjunction with our video monitoring team to
handle situations in real time, as well as with our video review team to aid in
investigations with site accidents, missing assets and unauthorized activity.
Supply chain security is becoming increasingly important,
with little room for complacency. If you would like more information about
Stealth’s proactive security solutions, contact us here.
