For shippers of air freight, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) runs a program called the Known Shipper Management System (KSMS), commonly known as the TSA Known Shipper program. We’ve pulled together brief answers to the questions we get most often about the program.

What is the TSA Known Shipper Program?

The program applies to air freight shipments leaving the U.S. It allows certain “known shippers” to transport cargo on passenger aircraft (“belly freight”) in addition to cargo aircraft. If you are not in the TSA Known Shipper database, you must use cargo-only planes. Essentially, companies who request Known Shipper status are carefully vetted to ensure their cargo is safe to transport.

Why Was the Program Established?

It made sense to utilize the extra space on passenger aircraft because the space below passengers on a plane far exceeds the amount of luggage. But the TSA wanted to establish strict standards for this freight to ensure passenger safety.

Is It Cheaper to Ship as a Known Shipper?

In general, yes. Shipping on cargo-only aircraft tends to be more expensive. So, becoming a TSA Known Shipper gives you access to more choices and lower rates.

What Are the Other Advantages of Known Shipper Status?

• Faster shipping times: Cargo-only flights travel on fewer routes and less frequently than passenger planes, so transit times are longer and often require multiple trans-shipments. The frequency of passenger flights allows you to get your shipments there faster.
• More flexibility: If customer needs require you to change your shipment schedule, you’ll have many more choices to hit required deadlines.
• Less hassle: Unknown shipper cargo is subject to more rigorous screening processes, whereas Known Shipper cargo would typically only be X-rayed, like passenger luggage.
  
  

Are There Limitations to What I Can Ship as a Known Shipper?

Cargo aircraft generally allow higher limits regarding height and weight. For a Boeing 747 freighter, for example, the maximum height is 300 centimeters per cargo piece, while for a 747 used for passenger travel, the height limit is 160 centimeters (63 inches). So, even as a Known Shipper, larger-sized shipments may end up on a freighter.

What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Known Shipper?

Hmmm, good question; wish we had a clear answer. The truth is that the TSA does not make these requirements public. The secrecy stems from the reason the program was created in the first place: to ensure travel safety.

In general, the TSA is looking for companies to have a secure infrastructure, access controls, surveillance at air cargo sites, and, for air cargo employees, background checks, security threat assessments, and security and awareness training. But, again, the TSA does not make the detailed requirements available.

How Do I Apply?

There is actually no direct application process to become a TSA Known Shipper. Go to the TSA website and you’ll see, they simply direct you to a transportation or freight forwarding partner like I.C.E. Transport to verify your information through the TSA database. You’ll then get word directly from the TSA.

To become a TSA Known Shipper, you must work with a TSA-approved Indirect Air Carrier (IAC), an airline or freight forwarder. They will submit your business details and shipping history into the KSMS on your behalf

Andrew Rozek, president of I.C.E. Transport, said TSA Known Shipper program compliance is not really a separate service his company offers, because it isn’t a “sign up and background check” type of process. Instead, a history of screened and safe shipments is what places you on the Known Shipper list.

“Seen in that light, it’s beneficial for shippers to use the same forwarder on a number of consecutive shipments in order to build that history with TSA,” Rozek said.

How Difficult Is It to Become a Known Shipper?

It can be quite time consuming, and you’ll need to provide a variety of information that establishes you as a safe air freight shipper – things like historical shipping records, past customs records, and contracts.

Once you are approved, TSA Known Shipper program status expires after a year and must be renewed. So, it’s not a quick and easy process. But the carrot at the end of that long stick is a far more flexible and efficient air freight shipping process.

What Are Some Related Air Cargo Screening Programs in the US?

Under U.S. law, Known Shipper is just one part of a broader air‑cargo security picture. Two of the most important related programs are:

CERTIFIED CARGO SCREENING PROGRAM (CCSP)

To support TSA’s requirement for 100% screening of U.S.-origin cargo on passenger and (since 2021) most all‑cargo flights, TSA created CCSP. Approved Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCSFs) screen freight before it reaches an airline or IAC. CCSFs must follow a TSA security program, screen at the piece level, protect chain of custody, and accept TSA validations and inspections.

Manufacturers, shippers, 3PLs, warehouses, distribution centers, and IACs can apply. TSA doesn’t charge for certification, but facilities often invest in screening equipment or labor. The payoff is faster movement and reduced bottlenecks because airlines can accept CCSP freight without repeating screening.

TSA uses a layered, risk‑based approach. Some cargo or entities can meet security requirements via approved programs or methods that aren’t identical to piece‑by‑piece physical screening at the last point of departure. This can include:

• Cargo originating in secure supply chains (i.e., CCSFs) that maintain a strict chain of custody
• Other TSA‑approved screening methods that fulfill the 100% requirement without traditional X‑ray/explosive trace detection (ETD) at the airline dock
  
  

AIR CARGO ADVANCE SCREENING (ACAS)

ACAS, jointly run by CBP and TSA, focuses on data rather than physical screening. It requires key shipment details (the “7+1” data elements: shipper/consignee names and full addresses, detailed cargo description, quantity, weight, and house/master air waybill numbers) to be filed electronically with CBP before cargo is loaded on a flight bound for the U.S.

CBP analyzes this data and responds with instructions ranging from “no further action” to “Do Not Load.” Submitting ACAS data early is critical; late filings can trigger delays if CBP requests more information or extra screening before departure.

To find out more about these programs, and how they are interrelated with Known Shipper, see our blog Understanding TSA Cargo Screening for Shippers.

What Has Changed with the Known Shipper Program Since 2020?

There haven’t been any headline grabbing “big bang” changes to the Known Shipper Program itself. Instead, TSA and industry partners have made quieter but important adjustments in a few key areas that shippers feel in day‑to‑day operations.

MORE DATA‑DRIVEN, AUTOMATED VETTING

TSA has continued tightening how shippers are screened and re‑screened in the Known Shipper Program, with greater use of automated data checks and cross‑referencing against other security and terrorism databases.

For many forwarders and carriers, this has meant two things at the same time:

• Faster turnarounds for routine Known Shipper determinations when information is complete and consistent.
• Much less tolerance for incomplete or mismatched shipper data (for example, inconsistent addresses, missing identifiers, or outdated contact details).

For shippers, it puts a premium on clean, accurate business information. Sloppy data can now slow you down or trigger extra questions before you can ship as a Known Shipper.

INTEGRATION WITH 100% CARGO SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

In 2021, international all‑cargo flights were brought up to essentially the same screening standards as passenger aircraft under International Civil Aviation Organization direction, implemented via TSA programs.

In practice, this raises the stakes for correctly identifying “known vs. unknown” on any given shipment. At the same time, it shrinks the flexibility that used to exist around all‑cargo exemptions, meaning misclassifying a shipment can cause more operational disruption than it did a few years ago.

Many carriers and forwarders have responded by tightening internal processes for feeding shipper information into the KSMS and documenting who is, and is not, known for specific routings.

MORE FREQUENT RE‑VALIDATION AND CLOSER OVERSIGHT OF IACS

TSA has gradually increased its oversight of IACs and direct air carriers on how they onboard new shippers before running Known Shipper checks. They maintain records tying each Known Shipper determination back to a real, verified business entity.

Since 2020, more operators have adopted stricter “know your customer” style steps before they even submit a company to be considered as a Known Shipper. This can include basic business verification, website/domain checks, and address validation. They’ve also tightened policies on how long a shipper can remain inactive before they require a fresh review or re‑screening.

STRONGER EMPHASIS ON FRAUD PREVENTION AND IDENTITY ABUSE

Rising cargo crime and identity fraud – including bogus shippers spoofing legitimate companies to move contraband or steal cargo – have pushed TSA and industry to look harder at whether a shipper is really who they claim to be.

While TSA hasn’t publicly rolled out a new Known Shipper fraud framework, audits and security program updates now put more focus on validating shipper identity and legitimacy, not just matching a name and address in a database. They also expect carriers and IACs to have documented procedures to prevent misuse of a Known Shipper profile, and to supplement TSA requirements with their own identity‑verification and risk‑screening tools.

For legitimate shippers, this can mean a few more questions up front, but it also helps protect your identity from being abused by bad actors.

PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION AND SECURITY PROGRAM UPDATES

Since 2020, TSA has periodically updated Standard Security Programs (SSPs) for air carriers and IACs, along with related security directives that reference how Known Shipper data must be used and safeguarded.

Most of these details live in controlled, non‑public documents, but the impact is visible in day‑to‑day processes:

• Clearer expectations on when and how TSA Known Shipper program status must be checked and documented at tender.
• Tighter requirements around data security and access controls for Known Shipper‑related information inside carrier and forwarder systems.

What Has Not Changed in a Fundamental Way?

Despite these refinements since 2020, the core of the TSA Known Shipper program remains the same:

• There is still no public checklist of requirements or a direct “apply here” portal for shippers.
• Known Shipper status is still requested and managed through approved transportation partners and TSA‑controlled systems.
• The main benefit is unchanged: access to passenger aircraft capacity, with more routing options, better transit times, and often lower overall costs.

For more information on the benefits of Known Shipper status, or for help managing your international air freight shipping, including navigating recent changes, contact I.C.E. Transport today.