GAO Says CBP Data Inadequate to Assess Northern Border FAST Program

(The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. It allows for expedited processing for commercial carriers who have completed background checks and fulfill certain eligibility requirements.

Participation in FAST requires that every link in the supply chain, from manufacturer to carrier to driver to importer is certified under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.)

Wait Times Have Decreased due to Recession, Border Improvements

According to GAO, CBP officials and stakeholders report that wait times for vehicle FAST clearance have decreased, although CBP does not collect data that would allow it to assess the effect of staffing and infrastructure constraints.

According to CBP and all stakeholders GAO interviewed, wait times for commercial vehicles have generally decreased due to lower traffic volumes as a result of the recession as well as staffing and infrastructure improvements, among other things.

Concern that CBP’s Wait Time Reports are Subjective

Although CBP calculates and reports wait times hourly for 28 of 122 northern border land ports, several CBP officials, stakeholders, importers, and trade organizations questioned the accuracy and reliability of CBP’s data. For example, CBP officers at three crossings questioned the methods used to estimate wait times, such as driver surveys, which are subjective.

(GAO notes that CBP acknowledged that the current methodology for measuring vehicle wait times is not ideal, and has initiated a pilot project to automate wait times measurement and to improve the accuracy and consistency of the data collected. CBP plans to deploy initial technology in the summer of 2010.)

CBP Has Taken Steps to Reduce Wait Times at Northern Border

To reduce wait times, GAO reports that CBP has taken actions to address staffing constraints and make infrastructure improvements, but challenges remain.

For example, CBP has increased northern border staffing levels by 47 percent from FY 2003 through 2010; however, at five of six ports of entry that GAO visited, CBP officers were not receiving the required 12-14 weeks of on-the-job training, and cargo processing training is inconsistent across ports, among other things.

CBP also has infrastructure projects related to 35 of the 122 northern border ports under way or planned over the next 5 years, and has made infrastructure improvements at 5 of the 6 land ports GAO visited. However, CBP officials said they face challenges addressing infrastructure needs, such as expanding infrastructure at the Peace Bridge, which is confined on three sides by the Niagara River, a historic park, and a residential neighborhood.

GAO Says ACE Modifications Needed to Tally FAST, Non-FAST Data Separately

GAO states that CBP lacks data needed to assess whether FAST program participants receive program benefits. CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) collects data on freight processing but does not differentiate between FAST and non-FAST shipments and thus it is difficult for CBP to determine the extent to which participants experience intended benefits.

GAO therefore recommends that CBP establish milestones to ensure that modifications to ACE proceed as planned so that CBP is better positioned to begin collecting data.

GAO states that establishing milestones could help CBP ensure that modifications to ACE proceed as planned so that CBP is better positioned to begin collecting data.

GAO also recommends that CBP conduct a study to determine if program benefits are being realized once these data have been captured. Conducting such a study would help CBP determine if the benefits are experienced by all FAST participants, and what program adjustments, if any, are needed.

(GAO-10-694, dated July 2010)

Information on CBP’s FAST program is available here.