Abstract

Executive Summary

In April 2008, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) completed work on the TSA Hazmat Truck Security Pilot (HTSP). This congressionally mandated pilot program was undertaken to prove that a hazmat truck tracking center was feasible from a technology and systems perspective. The HTSP project team built a technology prototype of a hazmat truck tracking system to show that “smart truck” technology could be crafted into an effective and efficient system for tracking hazmat shipments. The HTSP project team also built the Universal Communications Interface – the XML gateway for hazmat carriers to use to provide data to a centralized truck tracking center.

In August 2007, Congress enacted the 9/11 Act (PL110-53) that directs TSA to develop a program - consistent with the Hazmat Truck Security Pilot - to facilitate the tracking of motor carrier shipments of security-sensitive materials. In June 2008, TSA took a major step forward in establishing a national hazmat security program by issuing guidance for shipments of Tier 1 Highway Security Sensitive Materials (HSSMs), the riskiest shipments from a security perspective. TSA’s Tier 1 HSSM guidance includes Security Action Items which specify security measures – including vehicle tracking – that TSA believes are prudent security measures for shippers and carriers to follow. Compliance with TSA’s Tier 1 HSSM guidance is voluntary but TSA is expected to issue regulations based on the Tier 1 HSSM Security Action Items that will make compliance mandatory.

Establishment of a Tier 1 HSSM truck tracking center is critical to implementation of a Tier 1 HSSM regulatory program based on the Security Action items by TSA. The HTSP technology prototype was an excellent first step toward an operational Tier 1 HSSM truck tracking system. However, it falls far short of what TSA needs in an operational system. In an earlier deliverable, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky examined the “gaps” between the HTSP technology prototype and an operational Tier 1 HSSM truck tracking system.

TSA needs a Tier 1 HSSM truck tracking system to support its regulatory ambitions, and FedTrak is being built to specifically serve as the implementing tool for TSA’s Tier 1 HSSM regulatory program.

Deliverables 1.1 and 1.2 laid the foundation for development of the Specifications and Release plan for FedTrak, a Tier 1 HSSM truck tracking system. The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) held joint application design (JAD) sessions in Northern Virginia (June 3-5), in Lexington, KY (June 23-26) and again in Northern Virginia (July 15-16) to support development of the plan. A representative from NIHS attended the meeting in Lexington. This deliverable summarizes those meetings and the development approach the KTC project team will follow in building the FedTrak system. Specifically, this deliverable:

  • summarizes specifications arising from project team JAD sessions (Section 1.2 and Appendix A);
  • describes how “gaps” identified in Deliverable 1.2 will be filled (Section 1.1); and
  • describes the FedTrak project team’s architectural design and development approach (Sections 2, 3 and 4 ).

Release plans for the FedTrak shipper/carrier portals, the FedTrak electronic manifest application, and the FedTrak electronic route application are presented under separate cover.

Report Date

7-2009

Report Number

KTC-19-33/FD05-1F

Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.13023/ktc.rr.2019.33

Notes

© 2018 University of Kentucky, Kentucky Transportation Center

Information may not be used, reproduced, or republished without KTC’s written consent..

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Center, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the United States Department of Transportation, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The inclusion of manufacturer names or trade names is for identification purposes and should not be considered an endorsement.

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