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What is a Transportation Plan in a Foreign Military Sale?

Updated 3 October 2026Checked against the SAMM: 12 September 2026

A sets out how classified, sensitive, and arms, ammunition and explosives materiel on a case is moved and safeguarded, up to receipt by the purchaser's . The that prepares the develops it with the purchaser; the applicable security authority approves it and the purchaser accepts it in writing before the materiel moves. Once approved, it becomes an integral part of the .

What is a Transportation Plan in a Foreign Military Sale?

Before classified materiel can be shipped, the procedures for safeguarding it must be spelled out in a detailed by the preparing the , in cooperation with the customer. The must identify the individual responsible for safeguarding the classified materiel, the methods of transport, the locations of transfer and delivery, the location of storage or processing facilities, and the security clearances of all personnel and facilities involved in the transfer. The must ensure that its own security officials review and approve the .

The must be finalized, reviewed, and approved by the selling command’s security officials before any classified materiel can be shipped. The completed must be maintained in the case file. It must also be made available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other security officials when classified materiel is exported.

SECTIONS A–E · WHO, WHAT, PACKING SECTIONS F–L · ROUTE, CUSTODY, RETURN fmsedge.com TRANSPORTATION PLAN for the transfer of classified and sensitive materiel for the Government of Bandaria AUTHORIZATION: 1. The LOA: FMS case BN-D-YCY 2. Authority to export defense articles sold under FMS 3. Export license for classified defense articles A. PURPOSE Title transfer: at the point of origin Physical transfer: when Bandaria’s DGR signs for the materiel B. DESCRIPTION OF CONSIGNMENT Nomenclature · NSN Classification level · risk category C. RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT AND COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES 1. Bandarian representatives: in the U.S. (attaché, DGR); in Bandaria 2. USG and company: IA case manager · program office · contractor · DCMA · IA transportation · ports · DCSA · SCO (the U.S. DGR) 3. Emergency points of contact each: name or title, office, address, telephone, email D. COMMERCIAL ENTITIES IN EACH SHIPMENT 1. Freight forwarder: cleared facility, clearance level, cleared staff 2. Domestic carriers: cleared, with protective services 3. International air carriers 4. Ocean carrier E. PACKAGING THE CONSIGNMENT Packed to Military Level B (MIL-STD-2073-1); marked per MIL-STD-129 FMS shipment marking 1 FMS case identifier 2 Transportation Control Number 3 Transportation priority 4 Project code 5 Consignor 6 Consignee 7 Ultimate consignee / Mark For (MAPAD code) 1. Containers 2. Addressing An outline of the sample plan: its headings and the kinds of entry, not its contents. F. ROUTING OF THE CONSIGNMENT 1. By ocean: customer pickup at the military ocean terminal (DTC 8) 2. By Special Assignment Airlift Mission (DTC 9) 3. Through the freight forwarder (DTC 5) Each route, hand-over by hand-over: Source of supply Cleared carrier Port or forwarder Vessel or aircraft Bandaria’s DGR Notice of Availability to the purchaser’s representative · a cleared carrier Signature and Tally Record signed at every hand-over Report of shipment (REPSHIP) on release · tracer action if it is late G. COURIERS/ESCORTS Escorts on board, and from the port of debarkation to the Mark For destination; each named with clearance level and passport H. RECIPIENT GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Transfer of custody: Bandaria’s DGR signs the Signature and Tally Record (DD Form 1907) or DD Form 1385; full security responsibility passes 2. Inspection 3. Customs clearance 4. Onward movement to the in-country Mark For destination 5. Licenses and permits 6. Notice to the consignee, shipment tracking I. TRANSFER DOCUMENTATION LOA · DD Form 1348-1A · Notices of Availability · bills of lading · packing lists · export license · air waybills · signature and tally records J. RETURN OF MATERIEL Explosives come back through a DoW-controlled air or sea port; by ocean · by air · onward to the repair facility and back K. TRANSPORTATION PLAN CHANGES OR DEVIATIONS In writing to the IA’s case manager, approved before they take effect L. TRANSPORTATION PLAN APPROVAL Submitted to and approved by the IA’s security authority CONCUR: security authority Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 When does title transfer in a Foreign Military Sale? 1 Authorization and purpose The LOA and export authority it serves; where title and custody pass How is classified materiel shipped in a Foreign Military Sale? 2 Description of consignment Each item and its classification or risk category; nothing classified Who is responsible for shipping in a Foreign Military Sale? 3 Representatives and points of contact The purchaser’s DGR, the IA, the contractor, DCSA, a U.S. DGR who approves the release, and who to call in an emergency Freight forwarder or Defense Transportation System: how does a Foreign Military Sales purchaser ship its materiel? 4 Freight forwarder Named with its facility clearance, verified by DCSA; a transfer agent, never a government representative Do Foreign Military Sales shipments have to travel on U.S.-flag vessels? 5 Carriers Domestic and foreign carriers, their part in the move, their clearance What is the Military Assistance Program Address Directory (MAPAD)? 6 Packaging and marking Not less than Military Level A/B; a military shipping label with the case identifier and the Mark For address What is a Delivery Term Code in Foreign Military Sales? 7 Routing, couriers and escorts Every segment from origin to destination; couriers and escorts cleared to the level of the materiel shipped How is classified materiel shipped in a Foreign Military Sale? 8 Transfer of custody The DGR signs the Signature and Tally Record and assumes final security responsibility: the line where custody changes hands What is a Transportation Discrepancy Report in Foreign Military Sales? 9 Notice of availability and report of shipment The NOA says the materiel is ready; a REPSHIP on release shows a shipment delayed or lost en route Who is responsible for shipping in a Foreign Military Sale? 10 Recipient responsibilities Inspect, report any compromise, clear customs, move it onward to the Mark For destination How does repair and return work in Foreign Military Sales? 11 Return of materiel Back for repair on a U.S. or purchaser-registry carrier, IA told ahead 12 Changes, approval and references A living document: changes in writing; the security authority approves Appendix A · Regulatory reference listing FMS Edge a section of the plan · the transfer of custody · contacts, not drawn fmsedge.com · Current as of 27 September 2026 · SAMM C7.13 · Figures C7.F1, C7.F2 · C7.8 · C3.3.3.4.4

The sections of a Transportation Plan, redrawn from the structure of the Bandaria sample plan for a classified and sensitive shipment. Bandaria is the manual's fictional training country; the figure is a training example, not a real case. The first sheet names the case and the export authority, the materiel, the people responsible on both sides, the freight forwarder and carriers, and the packing and marking; the second follows the materiel hand-over by hand-over to the purchaser's Designated Government Representative, then sets out escorts, the purchaser's duties, the documents, returns for repair, changes and approval. On the site, each numbered part links to the page that explains it.

Anatomy of a Transportation Plan · Current as of 27 September 2026 · SAMM C7.13 · Figures C7.F1, C7.F2 · C7.8 · C3.3.3.4.4 · Download PNG

Transportation planning before the Letter of Request

International purchasers and should address transportation capabilities and limitations in their letters of request or memorandums of request for and , respectively. The most difficult commodities to move are sensitive , classified items, , cryptographic or other sensitive (nonexplosive) items, and oversized major items such as vehicles, aircraft, tanks, helicopters, boats, or heavy construction equipment. Some of these items can be moved by a commercial , but many must move through the . customers and should address the following concerns in pre- discussions in order to plan for delivery of these commodities:

1. Does the customer have the capability to pick up the materiel in and transport it to their country using their own carrier?

2. If the materiel will move by surface carrier overseas, does the customer have the capability to accept the materiel at the POD and arrange for movement to the final destination? What if the POD is in a third country? The customer will be responsible for clearing customs and arranging for transportation through any other country the materiel must transit.

3. Are there any unique documents, permits, or handling requirements for the shipment to clear customs?

4. What military or commercial air or water ports are available for delivering materiel? What is the carrier capacity of each port? Does the port have secured storage space? If the answers to these questions are unknown, it may be necessary for SDDC to conduct a port to identify the size and type of carriers that the port can accommodate and to assess the port’s physical security.

5. Does the customer have the ability to move the materiel securely from the POD to the final destination?

References

Drawn exclusively from publicly available authorities.

SAMM

Related

GuideHow is classified materiel shipped in FMS?GuideHow are hazardous materials shipped in a Foreign Military Sale?GuideShould a Foreign Military Sales purchaser use a freight forwarder or the Defense Transportation System?GuideWho is responsible for shipping in a Foreign Military Sale?GuideCan Foreign Military Sales materiel be sent by parcel post or courier?