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Truckers stay on schedule despite tighter security By JOHN DARLING Truckers are reporting virtually no slowdown in commerce, despite a federally ordered step-up in inspections of drivers and their paperwork - identity, commercial driver's licenses and endorsements for transporting hazardous materials. In response to federal Department of Transportation directives, the Oregon Department of Transportation is doing "level 3" inspections, which means scrutiny of all drivers' papers at points-of-entry in Ashland and Woodburn, rather than the normal level 1 and level 2 inspections for weight and load security, said Patrick Cooney, ODOT deputy director for communications in Salem. However, none of the departments of transportation in any state have found any driver or load suspected of connection with terrorist activity, he said. Misinformation is being spread by all-news cable channels apparently reporting that there's a nationwide dragnet with random load inspections, said Angela Rose-Lane, motor carrier safety inspector for ODOT in Medford. Such inspections are being done only for trucks entering Manhattan Island, she added. "We're doing inspections at the same rate and there are no trucks backed up on our scales and no significant effect on commerce," Rose-Lane said. ODOT doesn't have authority to inspect loads without probable cause of a violation; however, they can open a trailer to check see if the load is secure, she said. "It's a little bit of a bother, but the security of our nation is at stake, so they can inspect me all they please," said trucker Richard Jones of Allentown, Pa., as he passed through the Ashland port of entry. "I have no problem with it," said trucker Barend DeWit of Abbotsford, British Columbia. "We've been attacked and we have to get used to tighter security everywhere in America now." The only noticeable delays for truckers are 2-8 hours entering the U.S. from Canada and 4-24 hours coming in from Mexico, said Dewey Wilson, president of International Commodity Carriers Inc. in Medford. However, "truckers, next to soldiers, are the most patriotic bunch of guys in the country and will do what they have to do," he said. "Any carrier crossing the international border will be detained and the inspection is much more thorough. We in America need to accept tighter security, but I hope it's temporary. We're looking for needles in a haystack and in time the information will lead back to where the needles are." Other truckers mentioned the need for increased hazardous materials training for truckers. They also said many shippers and truckers are getting out of the business of handling hazardous materials because of expensive violation tickets, higher insurance premiums and cleanup costs from spills. John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.