OHS News

Two California Ports Mandate TruckTag Usage

25 Sep 2007

PierPASS has announced that marine container terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are to require trucks to be equipped with RFID TruckTags in order to gain access to the terminals from 1st December 2007.

Trucks without TruckTags will be processed through exception handling, which may include being denied access or processing via a "trouble ticket".

The TruckTag programme is a proactive effort to meet US Department of Homeland Security and US Coast Guard guidelines requiring marine terminals to enhance security.

TruckTag uses RFID to meet these requirements without hindering the flow of cargo through the ports. Similar to E-ZPass and FasTrak automated systems, RFID tags installed on the truck's driver-side rear view mirror are automatically read at marine terminal gate entrances using specialised scanning antennas that validate the security clearance of the truck.

The truck driver's commercial driver's license is also checked to verify that they are authorized to enter the port facility. Tag readers have now been installed at most PierPASS member terminals at the two ports, and member terminals are working to have all gates equipped with tag readers by December.