DB Schenker uses dogs to sniff out prohibited air cargo shipments

One of DB Schenker's dogs at Heathrow. Photo: DB Schenker

DB Schenker in the UK is using free-running explosive detection dogs to find prohibited items in airfreight shipments.

The dogs trained to screen cargo are from a variety of breeds and chosen specifically for their sense of smell. They include Spaniels and Labradors, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers.

The highly trained dogs receive between six and twelve months of intensive instruction before they become part of the team and are particularly chosen for their ability to detect explosives.

A new cohort is currently also in training to be able to sniff out lithium batteries. They are operating at Heathrow and Manchester daily and will soon also feature at Glasgow.

“The speed and accuracy of the screening they undertake has become an essential part of our operation and they give us a reliable method of detecting certain items which would otherwise prove difficult using other approaches,” said DB Schenker’s UK aviation security manager, Ian Dallow.

Not only are the dogs used to search regular airfreight shipments, but their keen sense of smell means they can be used to check out outsize shipments which have been tendered as airfreight but are too large to pass through an X-Ray machine.

The dogs can discover anything untoward in such a shipment much faster than a manual search by humans and this ability to expedite the screening process ensures swift and efficient movement of customer goods.

DB Schenker personnel at its multimodal locations around the country are involved in preparing freight for screening and ensuring the screening activities are carried out in accordance with strict regulations, so the use of dogs provides a highly effective additional screening method.

The dogs look for prohibited items, for example, a part of an explosive device. There are different rules for cargo and passenger aircraft so it is important to be fully conversant with all rules which apply to each aircraft type.

A knife in a cargo shipment may not be dangerous, but may be prohibited in baggage.

“We’re looking to prevent any prohibited articles getting onto an aircraft and to prevent unlawful interference with civil aviation,” added Dallow.

Deutsche Bahn mulls DB Schenker sale options

DB Schenker aims to keep its freighters flying

Share this story

Related Topics

Latest air cargo security news

Global K9 acquires Dog Detectives

US air cargo screening business Global K9 Protection Group (GK9PG) has acquired UK-based canine screening provider, Dog Detectives. The acquisition…

Read More

Share this story

Four arrests over air cargo incendiary plot

Polish authorities have reportedly arrested four people in connection to an alleged plot to conceal incendiary devices in airfreight shipments….

Read More

Share this story

Incendiary device revealed to have been found in UK parcel network

It has been revealed that a shipment containing an incendiary device found its way into DHL’s UK parcel network and…

Read More

Share this story

Rebecca Jeffrey

Rebecca Jeffrey
New to aviation journalism, I joined Air Cargo News in late 2021 as deputy editor. I previously worked for Mercator Media’s six maritime sector magazines as a reporter, heading up news for Port Strategy. Prior to this, I was editor for Recruitment International (now TALiNT International). Contact me on: [email protected]