• Motor carriers should be aware that cargo security goes beyond protecting freight to include protecting the community at risk of harm or death if terrorists seize or tamper with cargo.

A lot can happen between a load’s point of origin and its final destination. A motor carrier’s customer is expecting the shipment to arrive on time and intact. But in reality, the load is vulnerable to theft and tampering many times throughout its trip.

Protecting the public

Shipment security is more than just stolen freight and a cargo claim.

For those transporting finished or raw food products, attempts to tamper with the food chain by terrorists can result in serious illness and even death for the general public.

If carriers transport hazardous materials, commandeering a shipment of toxic chemicals can result in use of the material as a weapon (e.g., polluted water, bomb).