"Although ATA has sought authorization from Congress to allow motor carriers to conduct criminal background checks of employees and potential employees, the trucking industry remains without this basic tool," he said. "Many of our responsible members use what services are currently available through outside vendors to conduct cumbersome county-by-county criminal background checks. However, all agree that it is simply not feasible to conduct a nationwide check under the present scheme."

Acklie added that the ATA wants to work with Congress to enact legislation that would enable motor carriers to access national crime information databases that would allow them to conduct nationwide criminal background checks. The ATA said it will support federal efforts to enhance interoperability and communications between various federal criminal history and immigration databases, which would assist in screening out potential threats, he said.

"The possibility of a truck being used as a weapon of mass destruction, while unthinkable before, is now a reality," Acklie said, referring to the terrorist attacks of September 11. "In fact, the FBI’s subsequent investigation has determined that several detainees suspected of involvement [in the attacks] had fraudulently obtained CDLs.”

Acklie added that several industries have been authorized by federal statute to access national crime information databases to search criminal history records corresponding to fingerprints or other identification information, but excluding motor carriers is a “glaring omission.”