LIBRARY

VOLPE JOURNAL

HIGHLIGHTS

PUBLISHED AND
PRESENTED

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

TRANSPORTATION
STRATEGIC PLANS

LINKS

1. Introduction

Cargo-related crimes, including cargo theft, insurance fraud, drug trafficking, and the transportation of illegal immigrants into the United States, have all become dominant criminal issues on the national agenda. Concentrated government efforts attempt to combat cargo-related crimes; however, organized criminal activity continues to grow in both frequency and consequence. Increasing violence and criminal penetration of transportation operations and technologies significantly compromise the U.S. transportation infrastructure.

In recognition of the importance of addressing this problem, a Transportation Infrastructure Assurance Initiative was included among the thirteen specific Partnership Initiatives delineated in the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Transportation Science and Technology Strategy, prepared by the Transportation R&D Subcommittee of the NSTC Technology Committee. The Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration, working through its Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), has served as the executive agent for the initiative. This report is the first product of the initiative, which is aimed at improving industry capabilities to detect and control criminal activity at cargo terminals. More broadly, the focus is on developing and implementing means of improving the overall security of passenger and freight terminals, as well as of the people and cargo transiting these locations.

This report represents the results of research, interviews and on-site evaluations conducted to identify the issues related to security of cargo terminals to theft, smuggling, and other illegal activity. This report also provides industry best security practices for eliminating, mitigating, and controlling identified concerns within the security framework of cargo transportation. In keeping with the transportation infrastructure assurance philosophy, this report is not organized by mode (truck, rail, maritime, and pipeline), but rather provides an integrated discussion of all modes using cargo terminals with a special focus on intermodalism.

Transportation Infrastructure Assurance

Cargo transportation, with the inherent dynamics of an intermodal environment, faces increased and complicated opportunities for theft, pilferage, and smuggling. Discussion of these opportunities within the transportation industry historically has been splintered by modal differences that often dictate competing priorities and specialized views. In contrast, transportation infrastructure assurance requires the application of a systems approach to the identification and resolution of cargo terminal security. This approach is defined as:

"The application of operating, technical, and management techniques and principles to the security of a facility throughout its life to reduce threats and vulnerabilities to the most practical level through the most effective use of available resources."

Transportation infrastructure assurance advocates a form of risk management that eliminates or controls threats and vulnerabilities through an ongoing resolution process. This approach identifies, evaluates, and controls security threats and issues specific to security through all system life cycle phases, including terminal design, construction, operation, replacement, and disposal. This proactive approach encourages both the design and installation of features which "harden" terminal elements against criminal activity, and the implementation of security information monitoring systems, which identify and control new threats and security concerns. During all life-cycle phases, the terminal is assessed as an integrated system, rather than a collection of modal transfer and storage hubs.

A security program utilizing this approach offers the functional and integrated capability of protecting users and operators, as well as the resources of the terminal. The basic elements of protection involve prevention or deterrence of acts or conditions threatening the safety or welfare of those persons or resources, and corrective or remedial action to limit the effects of such acts or conditions when they do occur.

Efforts to gather data and information included (Appendix A):

• Distribution of a series of questions to major ports, and shippers.

• Correspondence with trade associations soliciting their input.

• Correspondence with and solicitation of input from Federal Government agencies with primary law enforcement and border integrity responsibilities.

• Correspondence and interaction with underwriters and industry groups.

• Cooperation with the National Cargo Security Council, the American Trucking Association, American Society for Industrial Security, and the Technology Asset Protection Association.

• On-site inspection, interview, and analysis.

• Literary and Internet searches.

This report applies systems analysis to identify issues related to security of interfaces between surface and marine modes, and does not focus on air terminals or its cargo. Aviation cargo security is being addressed separately as part of Vice President’s Commission on Aviation Safety and Security.

Additionally, this report identifies issues related to criminal activity, and recommends coordinated and integrated countermeasures to be supported by the Federal Government and implemented by industry.

Organization of Report

This report is organized into four areas. The first describes introductory information and definitions. The second discusses results of research conducted to assess the extent of criminal activity in the transportation industry, and more specifically, at cargo terminals. The third area presents the results of on-site evaluations and interviews conducted to identify specific issues related to security at cargo terminals around the country. Finally, the report provides industry best practices and recommendations to reduce the vulnerability of cargo terminals to criminal activity. Included as well are conclusions and recommendations for further analysis.

Return to Top

Next Section