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“I suggest that the US Customs Department charge a $1,000-per-container inspection fee on every container entering the United States. This fee would be used to completely fund the cost of inspections. If we assumed that a four-man team could fully inspect two containers a day or about 500 per year, it would require 48,000 inspectors. Allowing for at least 2,000 support personnel, we would need at least 50,000 workers. Because these workers would require high intelligence and skill levels they should earn at least $30 per hour. At 40-hour weeks plus benefits, I estimate the cost per worker to be over $75,000 per year, all paid by the foreign manufacturers. Even so, this would still leave over $2.25 billion to cover all other costs. Any revenue not used would be used to compensate American workers displaced by foreign imports. “

I take it you've never worked in the logistics/transportation business. Many thousands of shipping containers do enter America via ocean ports such as L.A. however, far more cross our borders via rail and countless numbers via tractor trailer with container trailers such as those found here

Many thousands of trailers haul containers across our borders every day in BOTH directions, whether its Canada or Mexico (North<->South and South<->North). Inspecting (unpacking and packing) one container (you said every container) can take many hours depending on its contents. This means there would have to be other factilities to do the inspections. The numbers you suggest are not realistic, imo. With Just In Time (JIT) inventories that assembly and manufacturing companies use to avoid the costs of warehousing and stockpiling, the costs in terms of lost time and inventory overruns alone to support your suggestion would be staggering, imo. I think its better for now that we continue seeing trailers like the one below, moving goods along our highways and railways without the burdens and overhead you are suggesting.

With all due respect, applied achedemic solutions are often not viable nor practicable in the real world.

I think its better for now that we continue seeing trailers like the one below, moving goods along our highways and railways without the burdens and overhead you are suggesting.

No one has a problem with their movement on our highways and railways. The only point of contention is that they should not be allowed to free cross our borders. That sounds reasonable to me. Isn't this exactly what we had in place before NAFTA; why would a mere 5 years make it an unreasonable burden?

Wekll to be precise it is not my suggestion and I have Not run the numbers. There is nothing magic about the $1,000/container figure that is merely thi sperson's esitimate.

Many thousands of shipping containers do enter America via ocean ports such as L.A. however, far more cross our borders via rail and countless numbers via tractor trailer with container trailers such as those found hereI realized this when I signed on to this suggestuion which id primarily a national security issue.

Many thousands of trailers haul containers across our borders every day in BOTH directions, whether its Canada or Mexico (North<->South and South<->North). Inspecting (unpacking and packing) one container (you said every container) can take many hours depending on its contents. This means there would have to be other factilities to do the inspections. The numbers you suggest are not realistic, imo. With Just In Time (JIT) inventories that assembly and manufacturing companies use to avoid the costs of warehousing and stockpiling, the costs in terms of lost time and inventory overruns alone to support your suggestion would be staggering, imo.

These companies alrrady factor in delivery times for these just in time inventories and additional wait of a day would be minor in comparison.

I think its better for now that we continue seeing trailers like the one below, moving goods along our highways and railways without the burdens and overhead you are suggesting.

As I stated my endorsement was based upon an evaluation of the security risk by some of these containers ( including tractor trailers) coming accross our borders. The risk clearly is a nuclear device in one of these containers. 'll bet teh detination of a couple of nukes in key cities would wreck real havoc with just in time inventories. People are profiting from bringing material accross our borders. If AlQueda succeeds in obtaining a trasnportable nyuclwear device then the rreward is more than worth the cost. What do you have against user fees. Railroads and airlines would not be exempt.