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The Latest Headlines:

• ATA Issues Alert to 'America's Trucking Army'
• Con-Way LTLs Approved for C-TPAT
• Arrest May Bolster Anti-Terrorism Efforts
• U.S. Lowers Terror Alert to Yellow

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ATA Issues Alert to 'America's Trucking Army'

The American Trucking Associations issued a nationwide alert to truck drivers Wednesday, saying U.S. intelligence sources had confirmed that recently apprehended al Qaeda operative Khalid Mohammed had explored the use of trucks as weapons of mass destruction.

Pakistani authorities arrested the senior al Qaeda official on Saturday, but by Monday U.S. interrogators had taken him into custody, according to news services. He is considered a mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and was on the FBI’s list of most wanted terrorists.

ATA, which has described this nation’s commercial vehicle drivers as “America’s Trucking Army,” issued the alert through its Highway Watch program and asked drivers enrolled in that effort to “continue taking steps to ensure their safety and the security of their vehicles.”

It also urged them to report any suspicious activity to the Highway Watch hotline.

The alert said new intelligence information in the wake of Mohammed’s arrest “indicates that al Qaeda has actively considered large-scale terrorist operations involving the use of trucks as weapons of mass destruction to attack bridges and other points in the transportation infrastructure.” Transport Topics

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Con-Way LTLs Approved for C-TPAT

img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/conwaylogo.gif" width=100 align=right>Con-Way Transportation Services Inc. said March 5 its four less-than-truckload freight carriers were approved by U.S. Customs for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism security initiative.

Con-Way Central Express, Con-Way Southern Express, Con-Way Western Express, Con-Way Canada Express can now participate in the Free and Secure Trade lane program, a joint effort between the United States and Canada designed to move approved shipments quickly and securely into the United States.

The company had submitted its application for the program to Customs last November.

Con-Way is an operating company of CNF Inc., ranked No. 4 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian trucking companies. Transport Topics

( for the full press release.)

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Arrest May Bolster Anti-Terrorism Efforts

Security and trucking industry officials said the arrest of alleged al Qaeda terrorist Khalid Shaikh Mohammed should bolster efforts to prevent terrorists from using trucks as weapons, Newhouse News Service reported.

Before the arrest, Mohammed was reportedly plotting to have terrorists steal tanker trucks and crash them into gas stations. In addition, truck bombs have been previously used in attacks in other countries, the article said.

Experts also said they expect the Transportation Security Administration to begin paying more attention to the security of the trucking industry in the coming years. Transport Topics

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U.S. Lowers Terror Alert to Yellow

The Bush administration lowered the national terror alert to yellow from orange Thursday, suggesting that the threat of an imminent terrorist attack on U.S. soil had eased, the Associated Press reported.

The conclusion of the Muslim hajj holiday period played a part in the decision, Attorney General John Ashcroft and ���ϳԹ���land Security Secretary Tom Ridge said in a joint statement.

AP cited counterterrorism officials who said a good deal of intelligence pointed to an attack during the early February holiday.

The terror alert had been raised to condition orange, signifying a “high” risk of a terrorist attack, on Feb. 7, AP said. Transport Topics

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