"We had security awareness long before Sept. 11." said Dunbar, president & COO of Dunbar Armored of Hunt Valley, MD. "We are doing things exactly the same now as before Sept. 11. What's happening now is that the rest of the world now has a new security awareness."

Dunbar Armored has a fleet of about 1,000 vehicles and has nearly 4,000 employees working in more than 80 locations throughout the country. The company offers a variety of services, everything from the pickup and delivery of cash from ATMs, grocery stores, and other businesses, to a secure air and ground transport network for moving valuable yet time-sensitive goods, such as jewelry, securities and computer chips.

Not only must security be a priority during the design and spec'ing of the vehicle, but Dunbar told Fleet Owner it plays a key role in how they are maintained as well.

"We have to consider the security of the entire vehicle - how the doors and locks are designed, how they are controlled, and how the battery box and engine are protected," he said. "Those things are all part of our security standards."

Dunbar points out that about 10% of its fleet is spare trucks, something most fleets try to avoid. He said it's because if a truck needs service, the company can't go to a dealer to rent or buy a similar truck.

"If a truck goes down and needs a new engine, it will be out for a while. We need to put that spare in right away," he said. "There's a real security aspect to a break down as well. So spare trucks must be readily available."