Motor Carriers Strive to Protect Loads, Rigs

Two months after FedEx Corp. unknowingly carried a radiation-emitting package from Sweden to New Orleans, motor carriers are working harder than ever to ensure they know exactly what they are carrying and for whom.

ost carriers have been re-evaluating and tightening security procedures — as well as increasing security training for employees — since the events of Sept. 11.

But the passage of time has done little, if anything, to allay fears that the trucking industry could be involved in future terrorist attacks. As such, motor carriers remain in a state of heightened awareness.

Some have taken to locking down what previously were considered low-security loads, like food and fertilizer, to prevent outside tampering. Others now use law enforcement canines trained to smell explosives. Still others are utilizing high-tech X-ray devices that can scan an entire truck or rail car to determine its contents.

For the full story, see the March 18 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.

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