U.S. ports looking for ways to reduce drayage truck turnaround time might want to take a look at a new technology being implemented at Europe's largest port.

The Port of Rotterdam last week began using a computer chip card and a hand scanner to identify truck drivers who pick up and deliver containers, according to a report in the Journal of Commerce.
The port has issued the card to more than 6,000 truckers. It lets the drivers progress faster through various checkpoints, such as loading and unloading bays and customs stations.
The driver's identity is checked by scanning his or her left hand and comparing the scan to information imbedded in the card.
Time savings will be even higher when the card is used with electronic advance notification of containers from truckers by EDI or the Internet.