What is a regulated agent?

Guarantee secure air shipments—do business with a regulated agent 

 If you want to make sure your air freight is secure — and potentially save your organization valuable time and money — it’s best to do business with a regulated agent.  

Read on to learn about what exactly a regulated agent does, what it means to be a known shipper, how consignors can find regulated agents, and more. 

What is a regulated agent? 

Around the world, regulated agent programs, managed by national governments, ensure all air cargo is inspected by qualified individuals.  

Any freight forwarder or other supply chain service provider that guarantees security control for freight or mail can be a regulated agent — if they apply and meet the criteria set forth by the applicable authorities.  

What is an indirect air carrier (IAC)? 

An indirect air carrier (IAC) is the U.S. term for a regulated agent certified by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

As part of the TSA’s Indirect Air Carrier Standard Security Program (IACSSP), each IAC must adopt and carry out requirements as mandated under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 Part 1548 (49 CFR 1548). 

The TSA requires each IAC to adopt and carry out a TSA-approved security program that meets current TSA requirements and is renewed annually. 

Learn more about the IACSSP
 

What’s the difference between a known shipper and a regulated agent? 

A U.S. designation, known shippers are companies that indirectly engage with shipping air freight but don’t own any aircraft themselves.  

To become a known shipper, a company must be vetted and submitted to the TSA’s Known Shipper Management System by a certified IAC. Once approved, known shippers are then able to transport cargo on passenger aircraft.  

Since IACs work frequently with airlines, the TSA has entrusted them with the task of vetting and submitting customers for known shipper-status approval. 

Why should I do business with regulated agents, IACs and known shippers? 

In short: to save time and money and increase your shipping project’s flexibility. 

Shippers who aren’t IACs or regulated agents don’t have access to passenger airplane cargo holds. That dramatically narrows your scope of flight options. And shipping via cargo-only aircraft tends to be pricier, with less frequent flights compared to passenger planes.   

Additionally, if your shipping company is not validated, your cargo must be screened, X-rayed and tested separately before it can be loaded onto an aircraft. This creates the risk of delivery delays, as well as increased freight costs.   

Finally, IACs (like AIT) often have established relationships with many airlines, which allows for enhanced rate negotiation. Global freight forwarders can also provide additional services and expertise, including customs support, warehousing, and more. 

Explore AIT’s logistics services

How do I find a regulated agent? 

Look no further: AIT is registered with the TSA as an IAC, and our global locations are also registered with their national governments as regulated agents.  

Although the TSA doesn’t publish a list of IACs publicly, a web search will typically yield good results, as most countries maintain a public list for regulated agents. Just be sure your source is an official government website. 

For example, the United Kingdom keeps a list of its regulated agents at publicapps.caa.co.uk, and Canada shares the members of its Air Cargo Security program at open.canada.ca.  

Is AIT a regulated agent? 

Yes. AIT takes supply chain security seriously. Our IAC status in the United States underscores that commitment and helps our customers expand their reach—safely and securely.  

Additionally,  our global locations are also regulated agents registered with their national authorities. 

What supply chain security or logistics security initiatives does AIT have in place? 

AIT works with security and regulatory affairs departments to oversee all logistics security initiatives. Our programs and certifications include: 

• Certified cargo screening facilities 
• Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) membership 
• Transport Asset Protection Association (TAPA) certification 
• Standard carrier alpha code (SCAC) approval 
• Department of Defense training 
• Safety courses 
• Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) transportation security 

 Explore our global security capabilities

Start your secure air freight project with AIT 

Shipping with a regulated agent could mean cost savings, access to a wider range of destinations and flight options, and even specialized logistics services and support. Why risk your freight with an unverified partner? 

If you already know what shipping services you’re looking for, start a quote with us today. Or get in touch with our supply chain consultants for additional information regarding AIT’s solutions and capabilities.