After the September 11 attacks , Congress considered new security measures to the Act , including background checks for truck drivers , requiring shipping companies to create alternative security plans , the use of electronic tracking devices to pinpoint exact locations of hazardous materials and their transporters , and creating strict federal penalties for hijacking trucks carrying hazardous materials . The enormity of attempting to monitor every shipment in the country was recognized as a " logistical impossibility " and an exorbitant expense . However , on October 18 , 2001 , Senator Hatch introduced the Hazardous Material in Transportation Protection Act of 2001 , which amended the Act to require stricter regulations of issuing operational licenses for the motor-vehicular transportation of hazardous materials . Specifically , the bill prohibits states from issuing licenses to transporters unless the Secretary clears the transporter through a comprehensive background check
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act