CBP Opens CTPAT Pilot to Freight Brokers and Non-Asset 3PLs
By Amy Roach | December 9, 2025
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has unveiled a five-year pilot program that, for the first time, allows freight brokers and warehouse-based third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to apply for membership in Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT). The program, which launched earlier this month, marks a significant expansion of CTPAT’s trusted-partner network — and a milestone for non-asset-based logistics providers historically excluded from the program.
The change stems from the CTPAT Pilot Program Act of 2023, enacted by Congress to bring non-asset and asset-based 3PLs under CTPAT’s security umbrella. Under the pilot, up to 20 3PLs—10 asset-based and 10 non-asset-based (such as freight brokers and warehouse-based 3PLs) — will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once accepted, participants must submit both a Company Profile and a Security Profile. They will be reviewed by a dedicated Supply Chain Security Specialist (SCSS), and — if approved — subjected to the same Minimum Security Criteria (MSC), validation and inspection procedures that traditional CTPAT members follow.
Why This Matters
Since its creation in the early 2000s, CTPAT has been a voluntary CBP-private sector initiative aimed at securing the international supply chain from origin to U.S. ports. While CTPAT already counted thousands of trusted partners — from importers and exporters to customs brokers and carriers — non-asset-based logistics providers such as freight brokers were largely sidelined because they did not physically handle cargo.
With global freight increasingly managed by brokers and 3PLs that don’t own transportation or warehousing assets, the lack of broker/3PL participation created a security “blind spot.” By bringing those intermediaries into CTPAT, CBP aims to improve visibility and accountability across the full supply-chain.
Industry Response: Broader Participation Welcomed
Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), which has long advocated for greater inclusion of brokers in security-certification programs, hailed the move as a major step forward. Its President and CEO, Chris Borroughs, said this change “recognizes brokers and warehouse-based 3PLs as trusted partners in securing the supply chain” and reflects “how freight truly moves today.” In a statement to Inbound Logistics, he added that the pilot will “strengthen visibility, accountability, and coordination across every link in the logistics chain.”
According to Borroughs, including brokers and 3PLs in CTPAT will benefit the entire trade community by reducing disruptions, speeding up clearances, and offering shippers “a higher level of assurance that their cargo is being handled by certified, security-minded partners.” He described the pilot as “a long-overdue step toward a more inclusive, modern framework.”
Industry insiders also expect this change will translate into shipper benefits, including fewer delays, smoother customs clearance, and more consistent security standards, especially for cargo that changes hands among multiple parties before arrival.
Implications for the Supply-Chain Ecosystem
The launch of this pilot signals a recognition by CBP and Congress of the evolving nature of global logistics, where brokers and outsourced providers increasingly manage key components of international freight flows. By allowing these firms to participate, the CTPAT expansion seeks to close security gaps, enhance accountability, and heighten resilience.
For shippers and freight customers, the move could reshape how providers are selected — potentially leading to a greater preference for CTPAT-certified brokers and 3PLs, especially for sensitive or high-value cargo. For brokers and 3PLs, the pilot opens the door to enhanced credibility, faster processing, and perhaps competitive advantage.
Whether the program becomes a permanent fixture of U.S. supply-chain oversight will depend on how well the pilot demonstrates that expanded 3PL participation truly strengthens security, reduces risk, and improves trade facilitation.