Security & Safety Briefs - Oct. 13 - Oct. 19
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The Latest Headlines:
- FedEx Halts Free Employee Rides on Cargo Flights
- LaneScan to Build System to Reduce Blind Spots
- Bomb Threats Temporarily Close Two Baltimore Tunnels
- LaneScan to Build System to Reduce Blind Spots
FedEx Halts Free Employee Rides on Cargo Flights
For security reasons, FedEx Corp. has ended a company perk of allowing employees to fry free on cargo planes where space allowed, the Associated Press reported.The company’s FedEx Express unit has allowed off-duty employees for years to fly in jump seats in the cargo bays of its airplanes on a space-available basis, AP said.
Now, the perk is being shelved again for FedEx employees who are not flying on company business. A FedEx official said the privileges were suspended following a review of the company’s security policies, AP reported.
FedEx Corp. is ranked No. 2 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of North American for-hire carriers. Transport Topics
LaneScan to Build System to Reduce Blind Spots
Mirror-technology company LaneScan LLC said it signed an agreement with fifth-wheel manufacturer Fontaine International to create an automated system that reduces blind spots for truck drivers.Under the agreement, LaneScan will attach sensors to a Fontaine fifth wheel connected to a control box in the cab so a driver can always see the right corner of the trailer, even if the turn is more than 75 degrees.
A 2001 study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said 35% of fatalities involving passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks occur because of blind spots. LaneScan said the new technology could help reduce such accidents and cut expenses associated with them.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The new system will be available next year as an option on Sterling Trucks, a subsidiary of Freightliner LLC, and Mack Trucks, said Phil VanWormer, LaneScan’s president.
In addition, LaneScan is negotiating with International Truck and Engine Corp. to make the technology available to its customers, VanWormer told Transport Topics. Tarun Reddy
Bomb Threats Temporarily Close Two Baltimore Tunnels
Authorities closed one of two highway tunnels carrying traffic under Baltimore's harbor for nearly two hours Tuesday and partially shut the other because of a threat to detonate vehicles full of explosives inside the tubes, the Associated Press reported.The Baltimore Harbor Tunnel was closed and the Fort McHenry Tunnel was reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction, AP reported, citing Maryland Transportation Authority Police. The closures began about 11:30 a.m. and officers began reopening the tubes about 1:15 p.m.
A federal law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the threat was phoned in to authorities by a person claiming to have information from abroad. Police said the investigation was continuing, led by the FBI.
The tunnels carry Interstates 95 and 895 between Washington and the Philadelphia and New York city areas. Transport Topics
