Consolidators International (CII), a leading Los Angeles-based wholesaler, has begun the implementation of screening process under the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mandated programme whereby 50 per cent of all freight carried in bellies of passenger aircraft must be screened, and 100 per cent by August 2010.

In announcing his company’s new inspection program, CII president Julian Keeling said, “although CII is geared to serve all forwarders with international air shipments, we expect to be helpful particularly to smaller and mid-sized consolidators.” He added that CII is one of the first smaller sized air freight companies to obtain the highly sophisticated equipment required to screen shipments under the TSA mandate.

The massive equipment, consisting of an X-Ray machine and an Explosive Trade Detector (ETD) are housed in a secure, sealed off portion of the CII warehouse. The X-Ray machine is capable of examining large wooden skids with a weight capacity on their rollers of 4,000 to 6,000 lbs. The Explosive Trade Detector is a portable device that is rubbed on cargo and picks up particles of known “problematic” compounds. CII’s secure warehouse is located just a short distance from LAX’ cargo facilities.