Many trucking companies, especially those that haul hazardous materials, are implementing corporate identification card programs for their drivers in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

While the U.S. Department of Transportation has asked carriers to take a number of steps to improve security, fearing terrorist use of trucks as weapons of mass destruction, this is a step that is being driven largely by customers.
At Quality Distribution, a large tank truck carrier based in Tampa, Fla., customers were requesting color photocopies of all their driver's CDL licenses and complete lists of drivers. "We're not going to release those," said Dick Carr, vice president of safety and risk management. "We consider those proprietary and confidential. We figured the best way to respond to customers' concerns was to put out a company photo ID badge, which will include a phone number they can call to authenticate it if necessary."
Jevic Transportation, a subsidiary of Yellow Freight based in Delanco, N.J., has issued all its drivers an upgrade identification they are required to wear while picking up and delivering loads. The Professional Driver Identification, or Jevic PDI, includes a photo, driver identification number, and other pertinent information.
"Jevic drivers have been using photo ID's since 1990, when we realized how much more than would assist our customers in securing their plants," said Paul Karvois, Jevic president. "Now we are adding another level of security by visibly displaying their photo ID to identify a Jevic professional at a glance."
Tom Rule, vice president of operations with industrial gas hauler Logex, Orange, Calif., says the company's customers "have this heightened awareness and are asking for things like photo identification from our drivers in addition to their CDL. We're trying to meet those needs so that they feel comfortable that the driver's we're supplying are who they say they are."

For more on what's being done to improve trucking company security in the wake of the terrorist attacks, see the November issue of RoadStar or Heavy Duty Trucking magazine.