Tightened MTMC policy briefed.

An ongoing process has tightened up the security of Military Traffic Management Command's munition shipments.

That was the message of Tom Hicks, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, to the Transportation Research Board's Military Transportation Committee. Hicks presented a special report to the committee at the board's annual meeting Jan. 15 in Washington, D.C.

"We've had great cooperation from commercial industry," said Hicks.

Revised efforts were underway even before the terrorist attacks on America Sept. 11, he said.

The biggest change has come in the elimination of commercial trucking terminals for scheduling stops. Formerly, there were 25 to 30 such terminals. Under revised MTMC regulations effective Jan. 1, no terminals meet current requirements.

"There are some proposals," said Hicks. "However, none is approved."

Carriers now have an expanded list of Department of Defense installations if they require temporary stops, or arrive at non-duty hours.

Another area of heightened security involves munitions drivers.

"We found 70 percent of the drivers had a secret clearance," said Hicks. "We decided to make it a requirement."

The security requirement for drivers is effective in April.

MTMC handles between 45,000 and 50,000 shipments of weapons and explosives each year, said Hicks. Fifteen munitions trucking firms move the majority of the shipments; five of these firms carry out about 70 percent of the movements.

MTMC munitions shipments have an extraordinary safety record of transit, said Hicks.