Security Costs Mounting, Roadway Boss Says

NAPLES, Fla. -- The costs of security measures that trucking companies have taken since Sept. 11 are starting to add up, Roadway Express President James Staley told a logistics providers group Tuesday.

Speaking at the spring meeting of the National Small Shipment Traffic Conference here, Staley said Roadway is paying out more money in road tolls and his trucks are being inspected with more than twice the frequency than before the terrorist attacks.

Because the public transportation authority that operates bridges over the Delaware River has had difficulty getting affordable insurance, Staley said the price of tolls has risen from $4 a truck crossing, to $16. That means Roadway’s annual expenses for Delaware bridge crossings will soar to $674,100 from $165,900.

In terms of time lost due to inspections, Staley said about 60 Roadway trucks or terminals were inspected each month from June until Sept. 11. Since then, he said, about 160 trucks or terminals a month have been inspected -- an increase of 150%.

He also said the Akron, Ohio-based carrier is spending more on terminal security by installing tougher fences and gates and cameras for monitoring activity.

Roadway is ranked No. 7 in the 2000-2001 Transport Topics list of the 100 largest trucking companies in the United States.

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