A pilot program uses disposable electronic seals to track containers on trucks in the intermodal freight chain.

In the not-too-distant future truckers may start using smart cards with electronic imprints of their fingerprints whenever making deliveries or pickups at major airports as part of a joint federal agency effort to improve cargo and airline security.

A single standard for dedicated short-range radio communications, now in final stages of approval by a national board, could bring compatibility to electronic weigh-station bypass and toll-collection services, according to the committee’s chairman.

Efforts to provide a nationwide port-of-entry pre-clearance process for trucking appear to be rolling into higher gear, with a good push from participating states, but there is still a mountain to climb.

Disputes over the sharing of carrier information are choking progress on a nationwide on-highway truck clearance program, federal officials claim.

The use of Intelligent Data Bus technology to make electronic systems in trucks more efficient and less costly doesn’t appear to be far off, but several hurdles remain.

The use of Intelligent Data Bus technology to make electronic systems in trucks more efficient and less costly doesn’t appear to be far off, but several hurdles remain to creating "plug and play" components.

Federal officials envision a seamless transportation system in which trucks can pass across borders without stopping for customs, safety checks and any other clearance ... someday.

Federal officials have a vision of a seamless transportation system throughout the Western Hemisphere in which trucks and passengers can pass from country to country without stopping at borders for customs, safety checks and any other clearance.

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the 5.9 gigahertz bandwidth for dedicated short-range communications, which involves intelligent transportation systems.