Showing posts with label RFID. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RFID. Show all posts

Saturday, June 26, 2010

CBP Detroit Implements ‘Ready Lane’ Pilot Program

(CBP)

RFID-Enabled Documents Get Special Lane During Program

U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced a pilot program at the Ambassador Bridge for travelers with approved Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology-enabled travel documents. The pilot program will start Monday, June 28, and last for 90 days.

CBP will dedicate lane 13, or the “Ready Lane,” for travelers entering the U.S. with a WHTI-compliant, RFID-enabled document. These documents include:

• U.S. Passport card

• Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Identification card

• Trusted Traveler card, such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST

• New Permanent Resident card or a new Border Crossing card

“Since the implementation of WHTI in June 2009, travelers have been required to present secure travel documents that denote citizenship and identity when entering the U.S. at land ports,” said Acting Director Field Operations Roderick Blanchard. “The use of RFID technology in these documents enables CBP to further facilitate legitimate travelers as they cross the border into the U.S. This pilot program will help us determine the efficiency and effectiveness of a dedicated RFID lane for those travelers.”

During the pilot program, the “Ready Lane” will be open from 6 to 10 a.m., seven days a week. CBP will monitor the success of the lane and expand the hours of operation as needed to meet the demand for usage.

In order to use this dedicated lane, all adult passengers over the age of 16, must present one of the approved travel documents.

Travelers using the “Ready Lane” are reminded the three simple steps to follow as they approach a U.S. land port of entry with their RFID-enabled travel card:

• Stop at the entry to the inspection lane and wait for a signal to move forward.

• Each passenger removes his or her travel card from its protective sleeve and holds it up, with the flat front face of the card toward a window on the driver’s side. The RFID-enabled cards will be read automatically while the vehicle proceeds to the inspection booth.

• Stop at the inspection booth, and be prepared to present documents for all travelers in the vehicle to the CBP officer.

“The priority lane complements Michigan’s enhanced driver’s license by adding another element of convenience for travelers,” said Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, who secured federal approval of the state’s enhanced license program.

“As the enhanced license becomes even more popular, I applaud U.S. Customs and Border Protection for exploring ways to efficiently accommodate motorists who enjoy its advantages. Our state and federal partnership is responding to the needs of travelers while ensuring the security of Michigan and America.”

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Canada Advances System for Cattle Traceability

(More RFID)

Effective July 1, 2010, all cattle must be tagged with an approved RFID tag prior to moving from their current location or leaving their farm of origin. These tags will replace the bar-coded dangle tags.

“A strong traceability system will help Canadian producers get the premium prices their top quality products deserve around the world,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “With RFID technology, we’ll be better able to trace an animal, which is not only important to human and animal welfare but also key to the sustainability of the Canadian livestock industry as a whole.” Read more here.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

RFID: Cargo Security and Product Traceability

(Video: Metro Group/Text: Aimglobal.org)



Whether it’s the result of the weak economy, the increased efficiency of thieves, or better reporting, freight thefts increased dramatically in the U.S. in 2009 — and that raises concerns about the integrity and safety of the supply chain.

A report by FreightWatch showed cargo thefts in the U.S. up 12% in 2009 over 2008 — but that figure doesn’t tell the full story.

The total value of these thefts, $487 million in 2009, represents a 67% increase over 2008.

While a variety of overt and covert methods can be used to identify stolen goods after the fact, whether in black or gray market outlets or in more legitimate channels, preventing theft — or identifying it early enough to stop goods from entering a distribution channel — is more effective.
But whether it’s preventing thefts or tracking goods after the fact, RFID can be a valuable tool.

The FreightWatch report showed that an increasing number of thefts, mostly truckloads, were from supposedly secure lots. On the one hand, that’s good news because it means that hijacking, with the greater possibility of personal injury, is on the decrease in the U.S. (although it is higher in other parts of the world). On the other hand, it means that “secure lots” really aren’t all that secure -- whether because of gaps in security procedures or complicity on the part of employees or others with access to lots. Where does RFID fit in? In virtually every aspect of shipment identification.

Read more here.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Drivers Should Have Next-Gen FAST Cards In-Hand

(Today’s Trucking)

Older, first generation FAST cards will no longer be accepted by Canada Border Services Agency or US Customs and Border Protection as of Dec. 1, 2009.

The Ontario Trucking Association reports that all commercial drivers should have received their Generation 2 FAST cards. Drivers who have not, should contact the FAST enrollment centre where they originally applied or click here.

The Generation 2 card is equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which enables the transmission of identification data from a distance.

The two border agencies have reportedly not yet decided how to handle old FAST cards — whether drivers can throw them out or hand them in — so drivers are advise to hold on to them just in case.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

First RFID Technology Upgrades Complete: CBP

(CBP)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that technology upgrades are complete at the Pacific Highway and Peace Arch border crossings with Canada, and at the Mariposa and DeConcini ports of entry in Nogales, Ariz. These locations mark the start for new Radio Frequency Identification technology deployments at 354 vehicle primary lanes in northern and southern border ports that account for 95% of all cross-border travel into the U.S.

“We are very pleased to announce our first vicinity RFID-enabled land ports of entry, and we thank the border communities for their patience during construction,” said Assistant Commissioner Field Operations Thomas Winkowski. “The option of using an RFID-enabled travel document offers more efficient processing for travelers while meeting CBP’s goal of securing the borders.”

The upgrades, which include new software, hardware, and the deployment of vicinity RFID technology, are being implemented as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. WHTI, a plan to implement the statutory mandates of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and a 9/11 Commission recommendation, requires U.S. and Canadian citizens to present secure documentation that confirms identity and citizenship when entering or re-entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. WHTI will be implemented on June 1, 2009 at land and seaports.

The technology works in tandem with new vicinity RFID-enabled documents, designed for use at our nation’s land and sea ports of entry. These documents include State Department-issued passport cards, CBP’s trusted traveler program (NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST) cards, and enhanced driver’s licenses that are currently available in Washington and New York State. When read by CBP, an RFID chip embedded in these documents transmits a unique number to a secure database as the traveler’s vehicle approaches the border, enabling CBP officers to verify the traveler’s identity and citizenship more quickly than ever. No personally identifiable information is stored on the chip or transmitted when the RFID chip is read. Facilitative technologies, such as RFID, provide CBP officers the ability to remain more attentive and vigilant during the inspection process, focusing more time and attention on travelers, with less time spent performing manual data entry queries.

CBP encourages individuals to apply for the new high-tech documents now to ensure that they have appropriate travel documents when WHTI goes into effect on June 1, 2009. Travelers can go to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Web site (http://www.GetYouHome.gov) for more information.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Enhanced Driver’s Licence or National Identity Card?

(Andrew Clement & Colin Bennett — Toronto Star)

In the name of thrift and convenience, Canadian governments are opening the door to a privacy-threatening ID scheme imposed by the United States in the misguided pursuit of “secure” borders. Currently, the Ontario government is pushing through legislation – Bill 85, the Photo Card Act – that would “enhance” the provincial driver’s licence to meet U.S. demands.

As part of the Bush administration’s war on terror, Canadians entering the U.S. will soon need to show a passport or equivalent document in compliance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The U.S. has already put this requirement into effect for air travel and in June 2009 it will cover all land and water crossings.

In anticipation of this and to facilitate “the efficient and secure flow of cross-border travel and commerce,” several Canadian provinces are instituting enhanced driver’s licences (EDL). Enhancing a licence in accordance with standards set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security involves including a citizenship indicator, an optical character recognition zone and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip.

With these features, an EDL can serve as an alternative to a Canadian passport at an American border. Promoted as cheaper and more convenient than a passport, such a licence initially appear to be a good deal. A closer examination reveals several flaws with this approach.

One of the most serious problems with EDLs is the requirement to adopt a particularly insecure form of chip – the EPC Gen 2. Over stiff opposition from the “smart card” industry as well as civil liberties organizations, Homeland Security has insisted on a type of chip that is notoriously privacy-invasive in its potential. The chip on the card will hold a unique personal identification number that anyone in the vicinity (at least 10 metres) can read with commercially available equipment and link to any other information the person may have about the card holder.

It is ironic that while some jurisdictions require the disabling of similar RFIDs in consumer items at point of purchase, there appears to be no effective way for individuals to do likewise with a card many will carry all the time. There has been no visible progress in developing less invasive features, such as a switch that would allow cardholders to turn the chip off until they want it read, or the option to request an EDL without a chip and only the optical character zone for machine reading. Read the rest here.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

CBP Modernizing Land Ports of Entry

(CBP)

RFID technology to help speed, streamline border crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection [Monday] announced plans for construction work to improve 39 major entry points along the U.S borders with Canada and Mexico over the coming months.

The construction, which entails deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to 354 vehicle lanes, will help speed travel and further enhance border security.
Use of RFID will enable swifter processing at border crossings for travelers using new state-of-the-art travel documents. These documents include the passport card – a wallet-sized, cost-effective alternative to the traditional passport specifically designed for cross-border land and sea travel – and enhanced driver’s licenses (EDLs) being produced by several states.

Washington State began producing an EDL in February and currently has issued over 17,000.

The State Department currently has received over 300,000 passport card applications and will be in full production in July. In addition, the State Department will be incorporating RFID technology into the next generation Border Crossing Cards. These new cards, which the State Department will begin issuing later this year, will further enhance and streamline border crossing for BCC-holders.

“We want to alert travelers to the potential of increased wait times at some high-volume border crossings this summer,” said CBP’s Executive Director for Admissibility and Passenger Programs Paul Morris. “Deploying RFID readers will be a tremendous step in helping reduce congestion and long lines in the future. We also want to thank travelers for their patience during this construction phase and to encourage them to obtain one of the new RFID-enabled documents.”

These documents are the result of a new requirement, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), a Congressional mandate passed in 2004. The requirement went into effect for air travel in January 2007. Full implementation of WHTI for land and sea travel will go into effect June 1, 2009. To help mitigate impact, CBP is taking a phased approach with separate construction and installation phases, which will be complete prior to June 2009. Where possible, construction is taking place during non-peak hours.

CBP is conducting numerous press events and stakeholder briefings throughout the border communities to answer questions about the technology deployment and provide additional information about WHTI and the variety of document options available to travelers. As travelers gear up for the busy summer travel season, CBP also offers tips to help expedite processing at the port of entry by having their documents ready upon arrival at the primary inspection booth and to declare all purchases to the CBP officer, including fruits, vegetables and animal products. For questions regarding admissible or prohibited products, please see the “Know Before You Go” website.

The construction is occurring in Blaine, Wash. and Nogales, Ariz. in June, and in the following locations throughout summer and fall (listed in no particular order): Buffalo, Champlain, Massena and Alexandria Bay, N.Y.; Detroit, Port Huron and Sault St. Marie, Mich.; El Paso, Laredo, Brownsville, Hidalgo, Rio Grande City, Fabens, Progreso, Del Rio, Roma, Presidio and Eagle Pass, Texas; Derby Line, Highgate Springs and Alburg, Vt.; Sweetgrass, Mont.; Calais, Houlton and Madawaska, Maine; International Falls, Minn.; Sumas Point Roberts and Lynden, Wash.; Pembina, N.D.; San Ysidro, Andrade, Tecate, Otay Mesa and Calexico, Calif.; San Luis, Douglas and Lukeville, Ariz.; and Columbus, N.M.

A sustained, large-scale ad campaign will also be launched later this year to advise national audiences in the United States and Canada about the new document requirement.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Invitation to Participate in RFID Study

(University of New Brunswick)

This research project on the different issues covering RFID implementation is under the sponsorship of the Faculty of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick Fredericton, Canada.

The objectives of the study are to: (1) identify the motivation and expected outcomes for conducting RFID implementation; (2) understand the information technology support needed for RFID; (3) understand ways of exchanging information and relating with supply chain partners; (4) identify the critical success factors of RFID technology implementation; and (5) understand factors that affect the adoption of RFID.

This topical research subject has been in the minds of executives as a number of years have passed since major firms like Wal-Mart and organizations like the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have mandated RFID use by its major suppliers. Over and above the mounting pressures created by these compliance mandates, firms are looking forward to attaining high levels of information accuracy and real-time visibility across the supply chain using RFID.

Also, the positive results of well-known RFID pilot projects conducted by leading-edge firms like Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble (now owner of Gillette), and others augur well for a widespread adoption of RFID across industries, possibly throughout the world. This technology also promises to enable companies to redefine the fundamental assumptions upon which today’s supply chain management policies, practices, and software systems are based.

To participate in the survey, go here. It should take you 10-15 minutes to respond to this survey. While the study is aimed primarily at firms already using RFID systems in certain areas only within the firm, with its supply chain partners, or both, we also gather information from firms that do not as yet do so. Regardless of the status of your firm in terms of RFID adoption, your responses are valuable and will be kept absolutely confidential.

Participants in this study will receive a copy of the final study report that will be generated from this project. Make sure you indicate the email address where you wish the report to be sent.
If you have any concerns about this study, contact Dr. Rebecca Angeles, Faculty of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick Fredericton at rangeles@unb.ca or tel. (506) 453-4962.