What is Fedtrak™? 

Fedtrak is an R&D initiative funded by the National Institute for Hometown Security in Somerset, KY, DHS’s Science & Technology Directorate, and TSA’s highway security program.

The KTC Test Site (KTC) at the University of Kentucky and its project partners are building Fedtrak™ as an implementing tool for TSA’s Tier 1 HSSM Security Action Items and as a sophisticated risk management tool for TSA’s highway security program. Dynamic risk profiling – based on security algorithms built into the Fedtrak™ Risk Engine – will allow TSA to monitor the security status of the nation’s hazmat supply chain on a truck-specific or a national basis.

In beginning its work several years ago, the KTC project team completed a detailed analysis of commercial “smart truck” products and tracking systems that work in the context of TSA’s hazmat security program.  Qualcomm and Safefreight are two companies that sell “smart truck” security systems for hazmat carriers.  Both also offer basic fleet tracking data services.  Others such as Savi Lockheed offer chain of custody/tracking solutions for industry verticals (Savi Chemical Chain of Custody System) that incorporate “smart truck” devices/services sold by companies such as Qualcomm and Safefreight.

KTC and NIHS hosted a delegation from the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) in Lexington, KY and at TSA HQ.  The SCDF, Singapore’s homeland security agency, built and operates the Singapore Hazmat Transport Vehicle Truck Security System. The project team conducted extensive reviews of the results of the Field Operations Test and the Hazmat Truck Security Pilot.

Although shipment tracking is a functional requisite for a centralized tracking system, TSA’s needs extend significantly beyond shipment tracking functionality. The KTC project team is building Fedtrak™ to “fit” TSA’s Security Action Items.  For example, data from electronic manifests, trip (route) plans and vehicle messaging systems are merged to create actionable intelligence by the Fedtrak™ system.

What is the status of the Fedtrak™ initiative?

The KTC project has built core components of the Fedtrak™ system including: a). shipper, carrier, and consignee portals, b). the UCI interface with commercial fleet tracking vendors; c). electronic manifest (chain of custody) module; d). electronic route plan module; e). trip plan module; f). geofence module (basic); g). business rules engine (basic); and h). a portion of the security specialist desktop including shipment visualization systems.  The team is just completing a short-term test of these components with key members of the explosives industry. The KTC project team has begun work on enhancing the Fedtrak™  Business Rules engine to reflect the TVC scenario analysis the team completed and is building a State Fusion Center interface.  In addition, the team will enhance portals to reflect feedback from the pilot program, and will enhance geo-fence and routing solutions. The KTC project team expects to continue to work closely with key members of the explosives industry to match Fedtrak to TSA and industry SAI needs.

The 1554 report addresses Section 1554(a)(2)(c) of the 9/11 Act and details much of the work completed on Fedtrak™, including:

• • • The programmatic and legislative basis for TSA’s highway security program
    • An overview of the functionality of shipment tracking systems
    • Telematics and Tier 1 HSSM Shipments Findings and Recommendations
    • Benefit/Cost Analysis of a Shipment Tracking Program
    • TSA’s Security Action Items

If you have any questions on Fedtrak™ or the 1554 report, reach out to Doug Kreis, KTC Director

dougkreis@uky.edu

859-257-6898