Published Friday, September 28, 2001

FBI seizes records from Lake Worth trucking school

Herald Link

BY DANIEL de VISE ddevise@herald.com

An FBI agent seized telephone records Thursday from a Lake Worth truck-driving school that had reported a Sept. 11 visit by three Middle Easterners seeking licenses to carry hazardous materials.

The visit came as Florida officials announced that state police officers will inspect the licenses of all drivers of hazardous-materials trucks when they come through weigh stations, ports and other terminals. Haz-mat trucks are a growing concern in the campaign against domestic terrorism.

Three Middle Eastern men arrived at Commercial Driver's License School at 4 p.m. on the day of the terrorist attacks, looking anxious, evading personal questions and saying they needed commercial drivers' licenses in a hurry, according to school president Al Hanley.

``My employee asked, `Why do you need the licenses so quickly?' '' Hanley said. ``They said, `I have to be in New York by Friday at 9 a.m.' ''

Hanley said none of the men resembled pictures he has seen of suspects -- living or dead -- in the terror attacks. But the FBI seemed interested in the address and telephone number listed in the company's phone log from a Sept. 11 conversation with one of the customers. Hanley wouldn't divulge the phone number or the Royal Palm Beach address.

The license the men sought allows a driver to transport chemicals, explosives and other hazardous materials. To earn it, a driver must pass a written exam and a driving test. For a competent truck driver, the process takes no more than a day.

The men grew impatient when an employee repeatedly asked why they needed the commercial licenses.

They finally abandoned the errand and left, grabbing a half-completed questionnaire from an employee's hand as they went. Hanley reported the visit to the FBI on Sept. 13.

Officers statewide will begin taking a hard look at hazardous-materials drivers whose licenses were issued in the past two years, according to Lt. Kenny Morris, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation's motor carrier compliance division.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001