Terrorism, as a concept that impacted the American psyche, is relatively new. In 1993, the basement truck bomb in the World Trade Center became the first nationally reported terrorism attack. Following that incident, the tragedy in Oklahoma City and the events of 9/11 jolted Americans and forced them to deal with terrorism as an actual threat to their freedom and way of life. After the attacks on 9/11, a series of smaller attacks made headlines, attacks that eventually changed how the US shipping industry conducts business. The anthrax scares of 2001 became the impetus for new security measures followed by the USPS, UPS, FedEx and other major shipping companies.

Each of the letters that were mailed with anthrax contained notes warning the recipient of the danger he or she had been exposed to. In all, five people were killed by the weaponized anthrax. In the days, weeks, months and years following these attacks, mailing companies adapted and added new precautions to prevent such letters from being opened. The first line (publicly accessible) of defense for shippers is a new system that identifies how mailed contents are addressed. Other defenses include: the Biological Detection System and training policies for all shipping employees, whether part of UPS, FedEx or another shipper.

The Biological Detection System (BDS) is the frontline of technological development to prevent anthrax attacks. When the original letters were sent, the post office that handled the mail had to be closed and decontaminated as a result. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on the clean up, and the USPS lead a charge to prevent such an even from ever happening again. In the BDS, each letter and package is run through a system that tests the air above packages for biological material. Yearly, just the USPS alone defers 38,000 packages based on the BDS. Most of the boxes and letters that are held over by BDS are found to be improperly packaged food items and the like, but if and when a true threat arises, this early line defense prevents entire mail houses from becoming contaminated. In addition, it stops letters from traveling to their intended location, saving lives.

Other major initiatives are enacted by employees who are trained to take personal responsibility for the condition of the packages they handle. Often, one employee is responsible for loading several thousand parcels into a truck, boat or aircraft during each shift. Though his or her job may become tedious, the employee is trained to observe boxes for signs of improper labeling. Moreover, major shippers like UPS and FedEx equip their employees with wrist sensors that digitally record address labels. When the digital reader fails to acquire an appropriate address from the label, the package is immediately waylaid. Between the vigilance of employee training and digital mechanics, many parcels are stopped each day for a second look.

On rare occasions, a parcel escapes the notice of mailers on the mailing end. If it travels through the system however, it is still not lost to detection. Receiving stations are also equipped to bring a package out of the stream if it does not pass standard measures. However, it is the method that is applied to all packages before mailing that is the greatest defense.

Yet unmentioned, and most effective of all, but somewhat debated, is the radiation sanitization that each package undergoes while in the mail system. This step of the process is both the best line of defense and the most guarded. FedEx and UPS both acknowledge processes including and not limited to radiation treatment of packages, but both companies guard their security measures highly. Statements from the head of FedEx reveal that because their safety measures are ahead of standard requirements, part of maintaining their prestige is protecting information that a potential terrorist could use to subvert their system. Inquiring minds want to know, but when safety is a matter of not gaining access, the tradeoff is worthwhile.

Since 2001, fewer than three parcels have been received by the intended recipient and confirmed dangerous in the US shipping industry. With a decade of proof to back their claims, UPS and FedEx are the safest mailing companies in the industry. In all their zeal though, those who ship their package should both: be extra careful to label their mail correctly and adhere to every mailing policy, and track shipments to be certain that delays do not impact delivery agreements. If a mailed package is held up, deemed safe and continued through the route, but arrives late, the original mailer should follow up with a claim.