TSA Announces Security Recommendations for Motor Carriers

(This article is based on a report submitted to the National Association of Chiefs of Police's National Security Committtee.) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a set of security recommendations for the transportation of certain quantities of hazardous materials across the nation's highways.

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The recommendations - while voluntary - will help to ensure the secure transportation of potentially dangerous materials that could cause a significant impact if used in an act of terrorism. The voluntary guidelines were developed over a three-year period by TSA's Highway and Motor Carrier Division, in close collaboration with government and private sector partners. The resulting recommendations are structured to allow motor carriers and shippers to adopt measures best suited to their particular circumstances or operation. "These recommendations will further enhance motor carrier security by helping the industry adopt security measures best suited for the size and scope of their organizations," said William Arrington, general manager, TSA Highway and Motor Carrier Division. "TSA utilized a threat-based approach to develop security measures that are reasonable and effective for the industry as a whole." TSA developed security action items for general security; personnel security; unauthorized access; and en-route security. General security measures include conducting security threat assessments, security planning, protecting critical information and enhancing awareness of industry-security practices. Personnel security and unauthorized access refer to practices affecting the security of a motor carrier's employees, contracted employees and its property. En-route security refers to the actual movement and handling of motor vehicles transporting highway security-sensitive materials. TSA recognizes that no one solution fits all motor carriers and circumstances. Therefore, the security action items allow for implementation flexibility based on the assessed vulnerability of a particular process or operation. The goal of the affected motor carrier and shipper should be to implement these security action items to the fullest extent practical. TSA will build on these recommendations by analyzing the effectiveness of the security action items and feedback the Highway and Motor Carrier Division receives from industry. TSA will consider the security action items for development as regulations.