For over a decade, AASHTO re:source has been able to provide laboratories in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) the adequate, timely service of supplying Construction Materials Testing Laboratories (CMTs) with proficiency samples in the areas of Soil Classification and Base Materials, Aggregate Base Materials, Asphalt Mixture Designs, and Liquid Asphalts.
More recently, AASHTO re:source and the participating laboratories in the KSA have been experiencing many challenges relating to the proficiency samples clearing the various governmental agencies as the samples proceed through the Port of Entry (Customs) in the KSA. These challenges are causing disruption for the testing laboratories as well as AASHTO re:source.
To alleviate these issues, AASHTO re:source has investigated and implemented several changes to the shipping documentation and requests from the KSA governmental agencies as well as changes with the courier (FedEx). Despite all the effort by AASHTO re:source, the Customs Agencies in the KSA are continuing to refuse clearance of the samples and are redirecting the shipments back to AASHTO. This refusal and reshipment have resulted in a substantial loss of time, resources, and investments to both AASHTO re:source and the participants.
AASHTO re:source has decided to suspend the Proficiency Sample Program Service to all participating CMT laboratories in the KSA. Effective on July 1st, 2023, all participants will be unenrolled from the Proficiency Sample Program. AASHTO re:source will be contacting each participating laboratory on the procedure for reinstatement.
If there are any questions or concerns, please contact us.