Scrutiny increases at truck training schools

Several of the 9/11 terrorists took flight lessons in the United States. The fear is that terrorists will use the lax regulations (read: no regulations) governing the transportation of deadly chemicals to turn a tanker carrying such chemicals into a deadly chemical weapon. Owners of truck driving schools are understandably jittery. Example: The FBI is investigating a commercial trucking school in West Plains, Missouri, the director of which called authorities because a large number of people taking license tests had names that appeared to be Middle Eastern in origin.

The superintendent of the West Plains public school district, which runs the South Central Career Center Truck Training Program as part of vocational training, said the FBI had told district officials the investigation was focused on people who took the tests for a commercial driver’s license. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, security efforts have included scrutiny of schools that train pilots as well as truck drivers who might be behind the wheel of rigs carrying tons of fuel or hazardous materials. The FBI declined to comment except to acknowledge that there was an investigation. Agents exercised a search warrant at the school two weeks ago.

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