This is not the first blog entry I’ve made on Chinese domestic shipping.  You know why you’ll find I haven’t made any on US domestic shipping?  because there’s nothing freakin’ happening, that’s why!

It’s easy to remember that just a month or so ago there was an badly handled domestic water contamination spill in China.  Easy as anything to point out the mistakes that were made and the health risks that occurred.  But here’s a concrete example of the country trying to DO something about these risks instead of following the vice president around to see if he shoots anymore two-legged quail.

To put an effective GPS tracking divide on a ship, barge, tractor-trailer or rail car costs under $500, off the shelf.  The device can be attached with double-face tale and will run for 7 years on its internal battery.  To track and monitor the position of this ’stick on’ tracker costs about $5.00 per month, with 7×24 availability.  So for what reason do thousands and thousands of shipment cross Americas highways, churn up and down our rives or ride the rails, every single day, unmonitored?  The way these things usually get noticed is if there’s a wreck and the firemen notice tel-tale signs of hazardous waste and then have to sit for precious minutes (even hours) for the transport company to fax (how 1996) the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) to them.

Folks wake up tomorrow, Monday, look at your calendar, confirm for me that’s it’s 2006 where you are living and then write your congress-critter, governor, local fire chief, mayor, whomever and show them this article.  Ask them when they plan to catch up to the Chinese.  Sooner, rather than later, would be the correct answer.

 

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