 In today's global economy, it takes 29 companies from 18 countries to have a simple cup of coffee. To produce a car, it can take 10,000 suppliers from around the globe, all of which in turn have their own suppliers. In this production, distribution and consumption chain, trucks are the link, allowing complex supply and logistics chains to operate efficiently into connecting all businesses, markets and transport modes. Every item on every store shelf in every office and in every home has, at one point of its production or distribution, been on a truck. So it goes without saying that trucks have become the vital lifeblood of all economies. However, these complex international supply chains are subject to non-harmonized and overlapping regulatory requirements and procedures that change from one country and region to the next. Field studies have shown that inappropriate customs procedures can account for up to 57% of total transport time. Waiting times at borders which can amount to hours, days and even weeks are an economic, social and environmental nightmare for all involved and create an environment conducive to corruption, making trade considerably slower and more expensive. What if these security and economic concerns could be effectively addressed with one global, multimodal, secure, affordable solution? Too good to be true? Meet the tier system. The tier system is the simple, global, multimodal, secure, affordable customs transit system. Under tier, trucks or any containerized shipments are sealed by customs at departure and unsealed by customs at destination without unnecessary or redundant checks at borders in between. When cargo arrives at the border of a transit country, customs make sure the seals are intact and verify the cargo information using a unique transport document, the tier carnet, before releasing the cargo. Nothing can get inside on the way without customs noticing it, thus guaranteeing the full security and traceability of goods transported. It's as simple as that. Highly computerized with state-of-the-art risk management applications, tier streamlines customs procedures worldwide for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness along the supply chain. In fact, tier cuts overall transport times by 40% and costs by up to 30%, making trade easier, cheaper and more secure. A win-win for everybody. Today, the tier system issues 3 million tier carnets for up to 20 million border crossings of close to 100 million tons of goods per year with one billion US dollars in guarantees issued every day to cover the customs taxes owing on those goods. Oh, and one last thing, tier has a strict public-private admission process that transport operators have to go through to become duly authorized tier transporters. But that's what makes tier the most secure and reliable customs transit system in the world. Ratified by close to 70 countries, the UN tier convention has proven most effective for 60 years in some 60 countries worldwide and 25 more countries are highly interested in getting on board. Tier. Join the club.