Improving Customs Transit Systems
In the Islamic Countries
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4.3.3.4 Jordan’s Electronic Transit Monitoring and Facilitation System
Jordan is one of the worldwide pioneers in the implementation of GPS technology for monitoring
the transit operation in the country. The idea of using tracking technology to manage the transit
trade in Jordan was first introduced by the telecommunication directorate at Jordan Customs in
1997 along with a centralized video monitoring system (CCTV). The limitations of tracking
technology at that time and the lack of an electronic map of Jordan delayed the realization of this
idea. Jordan Customs continues theoretical studies and investigates available technologies with
the aim of facilitating trade without sacrificing security needs. Many pilot projects and trials
have been conducted using tracking technology for this purpose, and the outcomewas a detailed
Request for Proposal (RFP) leading to a public tender in late 2006 and implementation in late
2008. Jordan’s electronic transit monitoring and facilitation system use GPS technology to locate
the position of the trucks being monitored. GPRS/SMS technology is used for communication
between the tracking units and the control room. The RFID technology is used for
communication between the tracking unit and the electronic seals to secure the shipment’s door
and to avoid separating the tractor from the trailer. Digital maps (vector and raster) are used to
provide a graphical interface to the user to enable the operator to follow up truck movements.
The MIS/CIS is used to provide statistics and reporting, and to interface with other existing
computerized applications to avoid duplication in data entry, wireless networks and PDAs are
used at the customs houses to initiate and terminate transit trips.
The tracking operation starts at the customs entrance BCP. After the transit truck completes all
customs procedures, the truck moves to an electronic tracking yard located just before the exit
gate; a tracking unit and electronic seals are configured and installed on the truck, and the transit
route which the truck will follow is assigned. The unit is identified by the system at the control
room, and the truck appears on the main monitoring screen.
During the transit trip, the truck’s position is updated at pre-assigned waypoints based on a
computerized risk analysis system – the duration can be short for high-risk shipments and
longer for low-risk shipments.
Any violation committed during the trip is reported immediately to the control room.
When the truck reaches the customs exit BCP, a trip report is issued by the system that shows
the route that has been followed and any violation that may have been identified during the trip.
The report is analyzed by a customs officer who will terminate the transit trip and remove the