The trucking industry is cautiously watching developments as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers of Disease Control upgraded their pandemic outbreak alerts Tuesday.


"ATA is aware that, depending on how aggressively the swine flu continues to spread, certain government actions might be taken which could impact trucking operations, especially cross-border operations with Mexico and Canada, and potentially at a domestic level," the trucking association noted in a statement.

The Department of Homeland Security's Pendemic Influenza guide to preparedness, response and recovery has a section devoted to guidelines for highway and motor carriers.

Developed with the help of the American Trucking Associations, the document outlines actions motor carriers should take and questions they should ask to prepare for a flu pandemic. It focuses on preserving a motor carrier's essential operations to avoid disruptions in the nation's freight services.

Download the Homeland Security document here.

For CDC news and updates on the swine flu outbreaks: www.cdc.gov/swineflu/