OTA Dispatch Issue 4 2018

35 www.ortrucking.org Issue 4 | 2018 testing, and mentoring of TSA screening officers. Explosives Specialists will also be called upon in order to perform advanced alarm resolution for threat items discovered during the screening process. Finally, Explosives Specialists act as subject matter experts for senior TSA staff during an emergency event. ` ` Explosives Specialists host explosives demonstrations for industry security partners to demonstrate the characteristics and capabilities of various explosive compounds and configurations. ` ` TSIs and Explosives Specialists coordinate tabletop and practical security related exercises for stakeholder partners. ` ` TSIs and Explosives Specialists regularly partner together and provide security presentations covering a wide array of topics during all manner of industry outreach events such as conferences, training events, and TSA led security summits. BASE program highlights: ` ` Identifying low cost/high value system, policy, and training measures. ` ` A fresh look into each individual aspect of security and how it could be addressed based on industry best practices. ` ` Mitigation of risk based on intel driven and up to date security recommendations from security professionals. ` ` Ongoing support from your local TSA field office including training, outreach, and security exercises. ` ` No cost federal program designed to enhance security for industry at the local and national level.  It’s important to note there is no penalty for a low score on the BASE assessment, so OTA encourages everyone to participate. Any Oregon or SWWashington-based OTA members interested in scheduling a BASE consultation, please contact Lucas Hubbard, Lead Transportation Security Inspector— Surface, TSA at lucas.hubbard@tsa.dhs.gov or 971.219.2689. Testimony from Roger Alley, Blue Line Transportation One of our members had requested the BASE consultation from TSA and recently completed the program. Although each member’s experience will differ based on their facility, fleet, and existing security plans and procedures, Roger Alley with Blue Line Transportation wanted to share his experience with other trucking industry members to know what to expect. “We spent most of the day responding to in-depth questions about our current security plan so TSA could evaluate how secure we are as a whole. We also had an open discussion with their team about how we can improve. Plus, there was no out of pocket expense for us. Here are some of the highlights: 9 9 Asked about 100 security questions 9 9 Brought in high ranking officials within our company to answer specific company information that only they had knowledge of 9 9 Walked around the facility to see possible physical security issues 9 9 Inspected our truck parking area because we don’t have a gated lot 9 9 Provided a report with items for us to work on”