Motor carrier facility security

Scope

This information applies to motor carriers.

Regulatory citations

• None

Key definitions

• Motor carrier: A for-hire motor carrier or a private motor carrier. The term includes a motor carrier’s agents, officers, and representatives as well as employees responsible for hiring, supervising, training, assigning, or dispatching of drivers and employees concerned with the installation, inspection, and maintenance of motor vehicle equipment and/or accessories.

Summary of requirements

A motor carrier should consider taking one or more of the following steps to prevent unauthorized facility access:

• Establish partnerships with local law enforcement officials, emergency responders, and other public safety agencies with jurisdiction over a carrier’s facility. Through such relationships, a carrier can learn about threats, trends, and successful and unsuccessful security programs.
• Request a review of the facility and security program by local law enforcement officials.
• Restrict the availability of information related to the facility and materials handled. Encourage authorities in possession of information about the facility to limit disclosure of that information on a need-to-know basis.
• Add security guards and increase off-hours patrols by security or law enforcement personnel.
• Improve fencing around the facility. Check the adequacy of locks and other protective equipment. Consider equipping access gates with timed closure devices. Conduct frequent inspections.
• Install additional lights, alarm systems, or surveillance cameras.
• Restrict access to a single entry or gate.
• Place limits on visitor access. Require visitors to register and show photo identification and have someone accompany visitors at all times.
• Require employees to display identification cards or badges.
• Conduct security spot checks of personnel and vehicles.
• Upgrade security procedures for handling pick-ups and deliveries at the facility. Verify all paperwork and require pick-ups and deliveries be handled only by appointment with known vendors. Require vendors to call before a delivery and to provide the driver’s name and vehicle number. Accept packages and deliveries only at the facility’s front gate.
• Secure hazardous materials in locked buildings or fenced areas. Have a sign-out system for keys.
• Secure valves, manways, and other fixtures on transportation equipment when not in use. Lock all vehicle and delivery trailer doors when not in use. Secure all rail, truck, and barge containers stored at the facility. Use tamper-resistant or tamper-evident seals and locks on cargo compartment openings.
• Periodically inventory the quantity of hazardous materials on site to recognize if a theft has occurred.
• Keep records of security incidents. Review records to identify trends and potential vulnerabilities.
• eport any suspicious incidents or individuals to the local Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office and local law enforcement officials.