Bobcat Motorsports Raffle

The MSU Bobcats could use your support!

Mike Henrich, a TRG Sales Support asks the community to help raise money for Bobcat Motorsports by purchasing a raffle ticket for the items listed below.  Bobcat Motorsports is a Montana State University (MSU) sanctioned club for engineering students who build Formula SAE race cars.  With your support, the club is able to compete with other universities throughout the U.S.

Tickets are $2 each and the prizes are as follows:

1^st Prize - $500 gift card to Diesel Pros

2^nd Prize - A drift boat rental from Big Boys Toys

3^rd Prize - $100 gift card to Murdoch Home & Ranch

4^th Prize - $100 gift card to Rib & Chop House

5^th Prize - 4 free races at Full Circle Racing

6^th Prize - $60 gift card to 2^nd Street Bistro

7^th Prize - $50 gift card to The Bay Bar & Grill

8^th Prize - 2 free races at Full Circle Racing

*The winners will not need to be present to be eligible.  The drawing will be held on December 6th.

For more information on Bobcat Motorsports, please visit their website http://www.coe.montana.edu/me/faculty/larson/sae%20club.htm.

If you would like to help out a good cause by buying a raffle ticket, please contact Mike Henrich.

Cell Phone:  406-209-7681
Email:  henrichm23@yahoo.com.

Or contact Ben Gardner, the club President, at 406-570-3162 or jbg_3d@hotmail.com.

International Trade Acronyms

For a complete list of International Trade Acronyms please contact TRG.

AAEI               American Association of Exporters and Importers

AAFA               American Apparel and Footwear Association

AAPA               American Association of Port Authorities

ABI                   Automated Broker Interface

ACE                 Automated Customs Environment

ACH                 Automated Clearing House

ACS                 Automated Commercial System

AES                 Automated Export System

AMS                 Automated Manifest Systems

APEC               Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

APHIS              Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (under USDA)

B/L                   Bill of Lading

BLS                  Bureau of Labor Statistics

BOA                 Basic Ordering Agreements

CAFTA-DR        Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement

CAMIR              Customs Automated Manifest Interface Requirements

CATAIR          Customs & Trade Automated Interface Requirements

CBP                 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (under DHS)

CBPF               Customs and Border Protection Form

CBSA               Canada Border Services Agency

CFR                  Code of Federal Regulations (also C.F.R.)

CHB                 Customhouse Broker

CIF                   Cost, Insurance and Freight, Port of Destination

CVD                 Countervailing Duty

DDC                 Destination Delivery Charge

DHS                 Department of Homeland Security

DIP                   Delay in Payment

DIS                   Defense Investigative Service

DLA                  Defense Logistics Agency

DNP                 Denied Party

DOT                  Department of Transportation

EPZs                Export Processing Zones

FOB                 Free on Board, Named Port

FP&F                Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures

HMR                 Hazardous Materials Regulations

HTSUS             Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States

IA                     Internal Affairs

ICPA                 International Compliance Professionals Association

IS                     Import Specialist

ISA                   Importer Self-Assessment

ISF                   Importer Security Filing

MTA                 Miscellaneous Trade & Technical Corrections Act, 2004

MTB                 Miscellaneous Trade Bill

MTSA               Maritime Transportation Security Act

NAFTA              North America Free Trade Agreement

NAICS              North American Industry Classification System

OGA                 Other Government Agency

OHC                 Origin Handling Charge

PNSI                 Prior Notice System Interface

PNTR                Permanent Normal Trade Relations

PO                   Purchase Order

POA                 Power of Attorney (also PoA)

POA                 Port of Arrival

SITC                 Standard International Trade Classification

SFI                   Secure Freight Initiative

SFTA                Singapore Free Trade Agreement

SHAPE             Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

SIA                   Society for International Affairs

USCIS              U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Service

USCS               United States Customs Service

USDA               U. S. Department of Agriculture

USITC               U. S. International Trade Commission

USML               U. S. Munitions List

USPPI              U. S. Principal Party in Interest

USPS               U. S. Postal Service

USPTO             U. S. Patent and Trademark Office

USTDA             U. S. Trade and Development Agency

USTR                U. S. Trade Representative

VOCC               Vessel Operating Common Carrier

VWP                Visa Waiver Program

WCO                World Customs Organization

WHO                World Health Organization

WEF                 World Economic Forum

WMD                Weapon of Mass Destruction

WTO                 World Trade Organization

Cargo Theft - Keep a Watchful Eye this Thanksgiving

All supply chains are complex and diverse.  The complexity of a supply chain and its security parameters often permit gaps and increase the theft risk of the cargo. Certain imported commodities, such as electronics, are more susceptible to loss by theft than others.  These risk factors include theft by commodity type, the path of the import or location and the type of theft.

Modifications may include increased security to your distribution channels to aid in cargo loss prevention and/or building a shipping insurance policy designed to your specific risks to offset the cost of a loss.  There are companies, usually consulting firms, that offer assistance in supply chain loss prevention and security programs.

Gobble, Gobble...Keep your eyes wide this Thanksgiving Holiday.

As we sit down to fill our bellies with turkey, cranberries, stuffing and pie, theives are waiting for an opportunity to strike.   During holiday weekends cargo is likely to be stagnant and unwatched for a longer period.

FreightWatch International, a logistics security firm,  reports on cargo theft in the United States.  In a recent notice, FreightWatch reminded those involved in logistics that cargo theft rises up to 28 percent during the holidays.  FreightWatch recorded 14 cargo theft cases during Thanksgiving 2010.
Subscribe to FreightWatch International’s Theft Report by contacting
Dan Burges
dan.burges@freightwatchintl.com
512-532-0159

Dan Burges states that the FreightWatch data, "Comes from out own proprietary database.  We gather cargo theft data through clients, industry organizations, law enforcement agencies, insurance companies and open source media.  We believe our database to be one of the most comprehensive cargo theft databases covering cargo theft in the United States."

The Holiday Season at TRG

Many rejoice before, during and after the Holiday Season.  We stretch this Season as long as we can to relax, endulge and prepare for a new year with new beginnings.  Our beliefs and traditions may not always coincide, but the feelings of joy and celebration bring us all closer together.

At TRG we are preparing for Holiday travel, long awaited time with family and friends, a few short work weeks (!!) and our company Holiday Party!  TRG's Holiday Party is one of few (aside from our Montana Meet and the occassional ski trip) company wide gatherings where we limit our work related conversations and enjoy one another's company in an informal atmosphere.

A tradition at TRG's party is a gift exchange known as the White Elephant.  As TRG continues to grow we must be very attentive in keeping this activity flowing.  We would otherwise find ourselves opening gifts until we are needed back in the office on Monday.  If you have not had the pleasure to participate in a White Elephant gift exchange here is how it is done:

1. Each participant (with our large group we double up into teams) brings a gift.  This gift is usually a hilarious, worthless gag gift.  2. Each group is given a number at random.  3. The group with #1 chooses a gift from under the tree, opens it and announces to group the horrible item which they have received.  4. On the second turn, the group with #2 may either steal gift #1 or unwrap another gift.  If group #2 steals gift #1, group #1 must then return to the tree and retrieve, open and share a new gift.

This continues on with the entire group.  We usually have one or two people bring gifts that participants will actually vie for, creating a fun and competitive atmosphere.  Last year there was a small rumble over a snuggie.  If you have ideas for great White Elephants gifts please leave a message on our blog or other social media sites.

Aside from our entertainment we are looking forward to another mouth watering catered dinner by our friends up the road.  We develop relationships with companies all over the U.S., very few are residents of Montana.  However, when it comes to our party menu we are delighted to have the Gourmet Gals from Big Sky, Montana fill our appetites.

This time of year we find ourselves focusing on our blessings.  We thank our Clients, business partners, employees and community for another successful year in business.

Cheers & Happy Holidays!