http://www.americandaily.com/article/17132
Guest Opinion/Commentary* Port of Miami Terrorism and Trucking By Renee <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED];[EMAIL PROTECTED] merican%20Daily%20Feedback> Taylor (01/08/07) The arrest of three men of Middle Eastern descent at the Port of Miami brings to the forefront concerns of terrorism and the trucking industry. The Iraqi driver of the white Freightliner, pulling a blue cargo container, had all the necessary documentation stating that the truck was legal to transport freight in the United States, according to initial reports. It was the drivers inability to tell the port security officer what freight was in the container that triggered an alarm. This information is clearly stated on every manifest/bill of lading, which is a required document for each and every load of freight. The initial search of the Freightliner turned up two undisclosed passengers, one of Lebanese descent. Initial reports also stated that one of the men had an outstanding warrant. The three have been detained. According to a press conference at the Port of Miami, the spokesperson for Miami Dade Police, Nancy Goldberg, gave the drivers age as twenty years old. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, rule 391.11, state the following: §391.11 General qualifications of drivers. (a) A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Except as provided in §391.63, a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless that person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. (B) Except as provided in Subpart G of this part, a person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she (B)(1) Is at least 21 years old; (B)(2) Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records; If this driver was twenty years old, he would not have a legal commercial drivers license, therefore would not be able to transport freight interstate. My question to the authorities is this why is a twenty year old from Dearborn, Michigan, delivering freight to the Port of Miami? The authorities are also stating that the entire event was due to miscommunication. Section 391.11 (B) (2) states the driver must be able to speak and understand English well enough to respond to official inquires. There are a multitude of red flags with this case. A person who is not qualified to obtain a commercial drivers license drove an eighteen wheeler from Dearborn, Michigan, to Miami, Florida. In the cab were two people, one with no identification. The possibility of trucks used in relation to terrorism is not new, but with the focus on the airlines and ports, there has been little discussion with regard to the trucking industry. In 2005, background checks began being required for those drivers with a hazardous materials endorsement on their commercial drivers license (CDL). It paid lip service to a serious, but often overlooked, security problem. In order to obtain a CDL, all one must do is be at least twenty-one years of age, pass a written and driving test. Unless, as stated previously, a hazardous materials endorsement is required, there is no background check. The CDL holder then has to submit to a drug test and provide his or her driving record to obtain a job driving a truck. The possibility of one using a truck assigned to him or her in the course of legitimate employment to commit acts of terrorism is just as much a reality as the stolen/hijacked truck scenario. One scenario of terrorism via truck is contaminated cargo in the trailer. This received much attention with the e coli outbreaks last year. However, the compartments of the trucks side box and below the sleeper should not be ruled out as hiding places for bombs and/or contaminates. This leads us to the conclusion that the possibility of terrorism via trucks is very real. Random inspections at weigh stations usually involve checking the manifest/bill of lading, truck registration, a visual inspection of truck and trailer and a check of the drivers log book. If there are no violations, the driver is released. There is no way to determine whether or not a person is a future terrorist when he or she obtains his or her commercial drivers license or at the time of hire with a motor carrier. The background checks for the hazardous materials endorsement does help eliminate those drivers with criminal records, but one must remember, Mohammed Atta did not have a criminal record. The effect this background check has on catching potential terrorists is minimal at best and further regulation on an over-regulated industry is not the answer. Security at shippers and receivers has gotten better since September 11, 2001. Many facilities are now requiring drivers to provide their drivers license, as well as logging the base plate number and truck number. Many facilities have begun restricting access to many areas. In most cases, there is one way in and one way out with guards at each gate monitoring incoming and outgoing trucks. The answer at this point is to follow the example of the guard at the Port of Miami. It is not known what could have happened had those at the initial point of contact had not acted accordingly. The quick reaction by the Port of Miami serves as a shot across the bow to potential terrorists that our nations port security is taking terrorism seriously and as a warning to the nations motor carriers and professional truckers to begin doing the same. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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