Shortage of cargo hold screeners threatens to ground "millions of pounds" of freight

US Transportation Security Administration announced airlines that use the cargo holds of passenger planes are to face an 03-Aug-2010 deadline to create a system of private cargo screeners for bombs and other explosives (Cleveland.com, 01-Nov-2009). Federal and industry officials are concerned thousands of tonnes of cargo will be grounded because of a lack of screeners.

US Transportation Security Administration: "There will not be enough (certified screeners) to meet the demands of the supply chain, not at the current rate of certification....That's millions of pounds (of cargo) that don't have a solution, projected out." Marc Rossi, Branch Chief for TSA's Certified Cargo Screening Program. Source: Cleveland.com, 01-Nov-2009.