TRUCKING INDUSTRY UPDATE By Bill Wanamaker Executive Director, ATA Government Freight Conference bwanamaker@trucking.org
MOTOR CARRIER ACCESS TO INSTALLATIONS
The Office of the Secretary of Defense for Transportation Policy [OSD(TP)] issued an update on 26 January 2017 for a secure motor carrier access processes that will expedite throughput at military installations, beginning sometime in the summer of 2017. OSD(TP) reports that the electronic Physical Access System (ePACS) is installed at 70 percent of installations now but that the lead DOD component— OSD-Intelligence—must complete policy guidance and training for installation security personnel before the installed 10
| Defense Transportation Journal | FEBRUARY 2017
systems can go live. Once operational, drivers with Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) will be able to register their TWIC at each installation they serve, and on subsequent arrivals, only be required to scan their TWIC before proceeding to the vehicle inspection bay. As the ePACS system matures, it will only require a driver new to DOD service to register their TWIC at the first ePACS enabled facility—one time—and that registration would suffice for all other installations. Another function will eventually include the ability for ePACS to scan a Real-ID drivers’ license, and a
TWIC would not then be needed except at maritime ports. Efficiencies are also expected as the vetting criteria for drivers becomes standardized, with some enhanced requirements for drivers entering nuclear or similarly security sensitive facilities. ePACS makes it possible for DOD to provide perpetual vetting of drivers with TWIC, persons with Real-ID drivers’ licenses, or CAC cards. Coordinating vetting requirements and providing an approval process for additional requirements sought by facility commanders will add significant efficiencies for gate throughput.
