In the past year, terrorist threats have changed the way business is done around the world. But improved security can raise the cost and slow the speed of your supply chain. How can we develop effective security strategies without disrupting shipping costs and schedules? A new trade show addressed these questions—Cargo Security Forum 2002, held at Georgetown Univ. in Washington, DC, featured speakers from 30 companies and executives from hundreds more.

They set out to answer three main questions: 1. What is the cost of security, and who will pay it? 2. How are government agencies working with private sector companies to enforce security rules? 3. What solutions are here today, and what can we expect tomorrow?

The answers varied depending on the sector—3PLs and their intermediaries, airports and freight hubs, freight forwarders, ports, road/air/rail/sea carriers, shippers, or technology solutions companies. Officials from U.S Customs and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey offered tips on how to evaluate and refine security strategies on a tight budget. Techniques include wireless cargo tracing, such as the automated tracking techniques used in the "Smart and Secure Tradelanes" initiative for containers entering U.S. ports.