SAFETY * USA - Trucking companies and drivers looking out for terrorism

Charlotte,NC,USA -WCNC/NewsChannel 36, by GREG ARGOS -April 8, 2011: -- Bob Fisher considers himself a road warrior. He's been in the trucking industry for 40 years and says he's seen security become the number one priority for truckers... That's because truckers could be easy targets for terrorists, since many carry hazardous materials long distances through large cities... This week, truckers from across the state and country brushed up on how best to do that. Speakers from the FBI, Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration met for a conference in Concord. The goal is to remind trucking companies to be vigilant about the people they hire, perform background checks, and monitor all dangerous loads...


* Trucking execs asked to be terror-aware. Experts at gathering cite area vulnerability to 'lone wolf' attacks.
Charlotte,NC,USA -The Charlotte Observer, by Franco Ordoñez -Apr. 07, 2011: -- A tractor-trailer filled with hazardous materials could be terrorists' next weapon of mass destruction, according to a panel of terrorism experts gathered in Concord Wednesday. And the group encouraged trucking executives to play the front line of defense in guarding against such an attack... More than 100 trucking executives attended the one-day security conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway that focused on improving ties between the government and industry leaders... The panel included experts from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration. Some speakers referred to truck drivers as "American road warriors" and "road patriots." They urged the executives to conduct extensive background checks on their drivers and look for unusual changes in their lifestyles, and to be aware of materials being transported to or from odd locations... One panelists pointed out how lethal a truck bomb can be, citing the 1993 attack when terrorists drove a rental van carrying a 1,500-pound bomb into the underground parking garage at the World Trade Center. The bombing killed six people and was intended to topple the buildings... Nichols said Charlotte is popular with crime syndicates because of its central location and proximity to major highways connecting other major cities such as Atlanta and Washington, D.C...