Be Prepared: Carriers Urged to Adopt Contingency Plans

RLINGTON, Va. - Supply chain security experts say that only a small number of U.S. freight companies have contingency plans for what to do in case another terrorist attack or other event disrupts the flow of freight transportation.

“People don’t look at what’s not on the radar, and too often it’s not on the radar until someone gets hammered,” said Omar Keith Helferich, vice president of Integrated Services Inc., a supply chain consultant in Okemos, Mich. Those who are waiting for the radar blip haven’t figured out what they need to do to keep goods moving should the government close highways or ground airplanes.

“If a given region gets hit hard and major infrastructure gets destroyed, what’s going to happen?” Helferich asked.

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