New Security Requirements at LA/LB Ports

The Truck Tag program is part of a proactive effort by terminal operators to meet US Department of Homeland Security and US Coast Guard guidelines, said PierPass. Truck Tag uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to identify the vehicle. The RFID tags are installed on the driver-side mirror and automatically read at the terminal gate. The driver's commercial drivers license will also be checked to ensure the driver is authorized by the carrier to enter the port facility on its behalf.

According to the ports, there are 180,000 truck deliveries to and from the marine terminals each week.

Traditionally, all marine terminal gate traffic is subject to a manual check-in process by marine terminal security personnel. PierPass has distributed more than 16,000 RFID tags to date and will process requests for another 1,000. PierPass says 70% of the tags have been registered and activated in the first weeks of the program.

PierPass distributes the RFID tags through eModal, a database company that tracks trucking companies and drivers. Trucks without Truck Tags will be processed through exception handling, which may include being denied access or processing, said PierPass.