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January 4, 2000 9:55 AM, EST

Even as the United States tightened security at its borders in hopes of thwarting terrorist incursions from abroad, trucks rolled routinely through most ports of entry on the eve of the millennium.

Low levels of truck traffic, attributed to a holiday drop in international freight movements, contributed to the ease of transit along both the Canadian and Mexican borders, according to customs and industry officials.

Also, authorities placed more emphasis on searching passenger cars and light trucks than commercial big rigs, said Steve Loffredo, a supervisor with the U.S. Customs Service in western New York.

In general, freight traffic is light at this time of year — the number of trucks entering the U.S. from Canada falls significantly between Christmas and New Year’s — but with the heightened security surrounding Y2K, “it’s a big relief that truck traffic has not picked up,” Loffredo said Dec. 28. He is the chief inspector for bridge operations at the Port of Buffalo in New York.

For the full story, see the Jan. 3 print edition of Transport Topics. .