U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FMCSA 19-00
Wednesday, October 18, 2000
Contact: Dave Longo
Telephone: 202-366-0456

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Signs Agreement to Participate in Pilot Program For Electronic Collection of Trade Data at Border Crossing

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today signed an inter-agency agreement with the International Trade Data System Board of Directors to participate in the the International Trade Data System (ITDS) at the federal ports of entry in Buffalo, N.Y. in 2001.

The pilot program in Buffalo will be the first deployment of ITDS, which is an initiative of Vice President Gore's National Performance Review.

"This data system will help improve truck safety and traffic flow, thus helping to safeguard the environment and lower the cost of inventories in transit," U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater stated, "It is an outcome of President Clinton and Vice President Gore's commitment to e-government, and we are enthusiastic about our participation in this important project."

The ITDS Board, chaired by the U.S. International Trade Commission and composed of federal agencies with significant responsibilities for the collection, analysis or policy formulation of trade data, is directing the project. The U.S. Customs Service is coordinating the development of the required computer system, which will be consistent with Customs' national architecture and share its systems for communicating with the border.

ITDS is an integrated government-wide system for the electronic collection, use, and dissemination of international trade transaction data. When fully developed over the next five to six years, ITDS will be the public and inter-agency interface for all international trade and transportation transactions for the movement of cargo in either direction across U.S. borders. Essentially, ITDS provides the primary inspector with "one look" at the truck and driver's compliance with key federal requirements before it enters the U.S.

Essentially, ITDS interfaces with government agency systems and provides for advanced filing by traders and motor carriers so federal agencies can pre-clear cargo, conveyance and crew before they arrive at a border crossing. The trade community will submit one data set to the government for all international trade transactions to ITDS. That data set will comprise the information necessary to process both the goods declaration and the transportation or conveyance declaration.

"We appreciate the industry's voluntary participation in this important project," said Acting Deputy FMCSA Administrator Clyde Hart Jr., who signed the agreement. "It demonstrates the trucking industry's commitment to commercial vehicle and driver safety."

Gene Rosengarden, chairman of the ITDS Board of Directors, commented, "This marks an important milestone in the development of the ITDS to provide a means for streamlining import and export processes for carriers, shippers, and traders, as well as for the government."

Between 1970 and 1997, U.S. imports and exports grew 350 percent faster than GDP in 1992 dollars increasing international trade from 11 percent of GDP in 1970 to 25 percent in 1997. Future forecasts project equally impressive growth rates for the foreseeable future.

In addition to FMCSA and U.S. Customs, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and the trade and transportation communities are expected to participate in this initial pilot in Buffalo.

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