Commercial Vehicle Radiological System Module of an Integrated Safety and Enforcement System for the 21st Century with Homeland Security Benefits

The Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is currently prototype testing state-of-the-art sensor technologies associated with detection of radiological materials incommerce. These technologies are deployed at an Evaluation User Facility at the I-40/I-75 Weigh and Inspection Station in Knoxville, TN. This real-world testing addresses radiological and nuclear material detection in commerce and is part of a larger program entitled Performance-Based 21st Century Commercial Vehicle Inspection System, which is an Integrated Safety and Enforcement System for the 21st Century with Homeland Security Benefits. The initial deployment of the Commercial Vehicle Radiological System Module in Tennessee is unique in that it is the first system, of its kind, to be installed at Weigh and Inspection Stations under the auspices of State safety and law enforcement entities. This safety and security initiative serves the security, safety and enforcement needs of local, state and federal government entities and utilizes the respective state’s existing weigh and inspection infrastructure. The weigh and inspection infrastructure is a recognized and accepted infrastructure by the commercial carrier industry, and thus the deployment of the Commercial Vehicle Radiological System Module will have a negligible impact on interstate commerce. Safety Monitoring includes drivers, vehicles and cargo addressing safety of shipments in transport, identification of unsafe vehicles and carriers, and monitoring of domestic and foreign commercial vehicles (as it relates to North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA]). Enforcement opportunities address cargo safety, tracking, placarding, motor carrier safety regulations, hazardous materials regulations, and over dimension and over weight commercial vehicles. Homeland Security Applications address Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD - \"Dirty Bomb\") identification, identification of unsafe or illicit transport of hazardous materials including chemicals and radiological materials, food safety and screening for shipments of illicit drugs.