SoCal port trucks mandated to have RFID tags by Dec. 1

SoCal port trucks mandated to have RFID tags by Dec. 1 PierPASS, a Southern California agency charged with monitoring marine terminal access for trucks and collecting fees to maintain extended hours of terminal gate operations, will require all trucks seeking access to the regional port facility to have radio frequency identification tags in place by Dec 1.
   The agency, created several years ago to collect a daytime gate fee from trucks servicing the two ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and used to offset after-hours gate operations, will begin denying access to trucks without the RFID devices or processing them through a so-called 'trouble ticket' after Dec. 1. PierPASS is encouraging trucking firms to install the devices now and register them through the online eModal TruckerCheck Web site program.
   Called TruckTags, the RFID devices allow readers installed at marine terminal gates to quickly verify whether the attached truck is cleared to enter the terminal.
   The TruckTag program, announced in January, is a self-developed effort by Southern California marine terminal operators to meet U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard requirements for marine terminal security. PierPASS has distributed 10,000 free RFID tags for the program since March. Marine terminal operators are picking up the $1.2 million cost of the program.
   In addition to the security aspects, the program is expected to eliminate some manual gate procedures and speed up gate transit times.