Hazardous cargo: truckers wary of terrorists
Date: 2002-01-10
A truck with 60,000 pounds of propane would "make one heck of a bomb," says California driver Gary Becker. The realization that there are many kinds of hazardous cargo on our roads that could be tools for terrorist attacks is causing the trucking industry, drivers, regulators and the general public some major headaches in the aftermath of September 11. Devices that would allow police to stop a runaway vehicle by remote control, and tracking technology that alerts dispatchers if a truck strays from its intended course, are amongst technologies being tested to increase security. In addition, truckers are discussing the need to carry guns and making plans to watch out for each other on the highway and at truckstops. Licensing of drivers qualified to haul hazardous materials is also under scrutiny.
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