Led by truck and rail modes of transport in 2017, the United States, Mexico, and Canada shipped over $1.2 trillion of products cross-border, making it the most in the world. The scale of materials and finished products moving across each country’s borders makes for a complex multi-layered cargo enforcement strategy by customs, but it also requires particular security standards and regulations for a security seal manufacturer. Our high-security seals and layered security solutions go above and beyond to protect our customers’ supply chains as well as the consumer.

ISO 17712 and C-TPAT

After the tragedy of 9/11 in 2001, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) was formed and is led by US Customs and Border Protection. The CBP works with the trade community to strengthen international supply chains and improve border security. Our security seals play a significant role in C-TPAT’s multi-layer approach. As such, our ISO-certified security products are rigorously tested at an ISO 17025 laboratory, where a conformance certificate is provided when it meets and/or exceeds the ISO 17712:2013 standard.
ISO (International Organization of Standardization) applies to security seals with its 17712 documents outlining the product testing and security-related business practices as delineated in the Normative Annex A. This document establishes “uniform procedures for the classification, acceptance, and withdrawal of mechanical freight container seals. It provides a single source of information on mechanical seals which are acceptable for securing freight containers in international commerce.”

These standards require testing of the physical strength, the tamper-evident features, and auditing of the manufacturer’s security-related business processes (ISO 9001). Tyden Brooks’ high-security barrier seals meet all of these standards and are ISO 17712:2013 certified for use in cross-border transport. If security seals and measures are not compliant with these standards, it could affect relationships between the company and border crossing authorities. To protect our customers and consumers, we make sure all of our high-security barrier seals are ISO 17712 and C-TPAT compliant.

Our ISO and C-TPAT Certified Seals 

Cross-border shipments are transported by truck and rail, both of which make use of our security seals to create high-quality multi-layered security strategies. ISO 17712-certified high-security barrier seals such as our Snaptracker, Flex Bolt, and Fortified hardened bolt can be applied to secure truck and railcar doors against unwanted intrusion and tampering. ISO 17712:2013 certified high-security cable seals such as our Flexsecure FS35 and Flexsecure FS50 are predominantly used for securing doors, hasps, keeper bars, and tanker lids.
By combining our high-security barrier and cable seals with our full line of indicative adjustable plastic seals (Secure-Grip, Tug Tight, All Seal, and Equilok), a reliable multi-layered security program can be implemented and protect your assets during cross-border transit. By adding additional layers with security bags, tamper evident tapes and labels, you can further reduce your risk of attack.

How Marking Increases Supply Chain Security To add another layer to a successful multi-layered strategy, Tyden Brooks offers high-security laser marking options for our seals. All these security seals can be laser marked with name/logo, 1D, 2D, QR barcodes, and come standard with serialized numbering to facilitate the track and trace of your cargo from point A to B. You can learn more about our innovative 2D barcoding process here.

Our Snaptracker bolt seal uses dual marking, meaning they are marked on the actual bolt and the locking body. Dual marking dramatically helps reduce the likely hood of counterfeit bolts being used to hide tampering. Our hardened bolts have serial numbers cold stamped and/or are directly laser marked, making replicating impossible. What sets us apart from the competition is our ability to do in-house laser marking, which saves our customers time and money.

Marking also helps customers by identifying what point tampering takes place, exposing pilferage, contraband, and theft. Marking goes a long way in protecting a company’s bottom line and reducing shrinkage while keeping track of inventory numbers. With sensitive products, such as food, marking helps prevent or detect contamination and can store important handling data.

Closed-Loop System Protection

Much cross-border shipping is part of a closed-loop supply chain. Closed-loop is geared mostly toward the rail shipping aspect as trains go back and forth along the same line bringing raw materials and finished goods both ways. With a closed-loop supply strategy, our ISO-certified security seals are applied to rail cars and trucks. The receivers on the other end have the appropriate custom Tyden Brooks removal tools to cut the high-security seals. Having these barrier seals in place creates an immediate deterrent and prevents unwanted tampering along the supply chain by making it near impossible for anyone outside the closed-loop to be able to remove them. 

Tanker trucks that carry goods cross-border also use our security seals. Many of these tankers must be sanitized and cleaned upon unloading their product. Our plastic seals and cable seals can then be used to signal that these tankers remain clean as they travel back to pick up a new shipment. These seals prevent contamination of sensitive goods by making sure sanitation does not get compromised along the route.

Conclusion 

TydenBrooks has 149 years of experience in creating successful multi-layered security strategies for global supply chains. Cross-border trade is a significant business in Canada and the United States, and with an increase in security precautions, we go above and beyond to innovate solutions that meet and excel these requirements.

For more information or to discuss your unique cross-border Canada to US transportation security needs, contact our Canadian Sales Manager, Winston Yip, at winston.yip@tydenbrooks.com
or 204-396-1936.