Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/833076
Logbook 14 | Overdrive | June 2017 The 2017 fiscal year spending pack- age cleared by Congress last month puts a further delay on the introduc- tion of wireless roadside inspections. The Consolidated Appropri- ations Act of 2017 bars the U.S. Department of Transportation from further work in developing a wireless program until DOT can ensure it does not duplicate systems already in place at state and local levels, among other hurdles. The bill, expected to be signed by President Trump, keeps the government funded through Sept. 30. It builds upon congressional intent in recent years to slow progress on a national wireless roadside inspection program until DOT answers certain questions for lawmakers. The bill also requires DOT to address privacy con- cerns of carriers and drivers regard- ing wireless inspection data. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration already is developing wireless inspections and last year announced it was beginning a third phase of testing involving about 600 trucks and drivers. The system's aim is to inspect vehicles via roadside sensors and transmission of vehicle information. The agency said last year it could be able to make a "go, no-go" deter- mination on the feasibility of a na- tional wireless inspection program as early as September 2017. It's unclear whether the 2017 appropriations bill will affect that timeline. – James Jaillet Congress slows deployment of wireless roadside inspections FMCSA last year began a third phase of wireless inspection system testing involving about 600 trucks and drivers. The Transportation Se- curity Administration last month issued an internal report warning of the potential for terrorists to use trucks as weapons to conduct attacks. TSA also released a list of counter- measures that truck owners and operators should heed, mostly involving awareness of surroundings and re- porting suspicious activity. High-profile truck-ram- ming attacks include a July 2016 attack in Nice, France, that killed 87 people and injured 430, and a similar attack in December 2016 in Berlin, Germany, in which 12 people were killed and 56 were injured. The TSA report cites these and 15 similar attacks, 10 of which occurred in the past 10 months. The straight truck used in the Nice attack was rented, but the truck and trailer used by terrorists in the Berlin attack was hijacked and driven to Berlin by the assailant. The trucker was murdered by the attacker during the hijacking. In addition to staying alert and reporting suspi- cions, countermeasures for drivers include parking in secure locations, ensur- ing vehicles are locked and refusing rides for strangers. Carriers should ensure drivers comply with planned routes. "Terrorist organizations overseas have advocated conducting vehicle ram- ming attacks … against crowds, buildings and other vehicles," accord- ing to the unclassified memo issued to Home- land Security staffers, law enforcement agencies and others. "It is likely that terrorist groups will continue to encourage as- piring attackers to employ unsophisticated attacks such as vehicle-ramming, since these types of attacks minimize the potential for premature detection and could inflict mass fatalities if successful." – James Jaillet TSA warns of truck-ramming terrorism Recent truck-ramming attacks include this December 2016 incident in Berlin, Germany, in which 12 people were killed and 56 were injured.