Many times, when we examine a vehicle ambush, the discussions will always ask the question “What If.” What if the driver moved the steering wheel a half a second sooner – applied the brakes a second earlier – made a decision quicker – had the ability to use more of the vehicle capability.

Knowledge is Power – Sharing Knowledge is Powerful. The average ISDA member has 15 years of experience; many have been working in the profession for…

Hello Members, We are in the process of putting together the next Executive Protection and Secure Transportation Magazine (EPST). We hope to get it out…

Although there are no metrics that cover “Sharing Knowledge,” in 2019, the amount of information and knowledge shared by the ISDA membership is unsurpassed in the profession.

Since the Omar García Harfuch Ambush, we (ISDA) have received questions concerning the use of armored vehicles in protective services.

These are the result of the survey that ISDA conducted a few months back.  Keep in mind that the survey was conducted during the height…

During my 45 years and for the past 18 years, Joe Autera, and I have conducted forensic analysis on countless vehicle attacks. As we have in…

There are conflicting reports about how the attack unfolded – these are some videos and articles supplied by ISDA Members – Mark Caldwell and Gerardo…

How VDI is planning to deliver the training that is critical to their mission in a way that meets their needs and expectations while mitigating and managing the overarching risks to students as well as those they protect.

We will open up our business starting from July this year (based upon the information we now have, but it can all change) our clients may not need as many daily transportations as normal where they operate, but they are still our clients, so we just wait and follow the instructions we get from their security department.

The main concern in Latin American ground transportation industry is the cargo theft from trucks, it has a relevant impact in the economies of the region because more than 80% of the goods reach companies and individuals through a huge motor fleet, from pickups to +18 wheels tractor trailers.

I have been fortunate to have experienced working with vehicle motorcades on hundreds of occasions all over the world in my 40 years of working in the executive protection industry, and I thought I would share some best practices and things I have learned along the way.

“Well, that is going to leave a mark.” The first time I heard that statement, I was watching a NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto…

I think, for the most part, those working overseas would say I have had it easy, and they would be right. Most of what I…

In June of 2010, Rodolfo Torre Cantu, a physician, and politician running for governor of the Mexican State of Tamaulipas, was assassinated while driving in a non-armored two-vehicle scenario.

Three Seconds to Safety is a booklet that covers carjacking. Like the author, Tony Scotti, the booklet is old, it was written in the late…

The goal of Secure Transportation is to supply safe and secure transportation for your principal or client. With COVID-19 upon us, the safe portion of…

Sharing knowledge is the ISDA culture, and its members define ISDA’s culture. This post is a collection of Member’ LinkedIn Articles. Approximately 100 articles are…

56% Of Those Who Supply Secure Transportation Use Rental Vehicles. The title of this article comes from data collected from the 2019 ISDA Executive Vehicle…

We strongly suggest that anyone who attends a Security Driving training program is measured in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 135. This is the standard that is used to measure vehicle braking performance. As a security driver, you must be able to perform at a much higher level than “minimum” (it is what you get paid to do).

When moving through any scenario the driver is managing time and distance. In an emergency, survival comes down to how much time and distance do you have to avoid the problem.

Over the last few years there have been a few training providers and security driver instructors that use the standard and methodology I created, and by association attach me to their training or instructor credentials. Some have used the phrase “Scotti-Certified Instructor.” With some, that may be correct, but the question is “When did I teach them?” So let me set the record straight.

I have received PM’s, emails, and phone calls concerning training providers using the phrase “The Science of Driving, and OUR 80% standard for measuring driving skill, so I thought a history lesson was in order.

An article published in Law Enforcement Today Magazine created a great deal of concern, not only by those that offer training in Virginia but by…

To get a better understanding of the Dangers of Distracted Driving, we can use a phrase associated with security and security driving – “The Kill Zone.” Although the term Kill Zone is used by the security community, it can also describe any scenario that creates an emergency for the driver and passengers. Not looking where you are going for 2 to 3 seconds falls into that category.

In July of last year, I achieved the status of an octogenarian. I have been working in the profession for close to 45 years. During…

Although this more than 40-year loyalty to our brand and methodology may seem unusual to some, it is actually a common occurrence at the old Scotti School and now VDI.

An interesting metric from the ISDA Executive Vehicle & Secure Transportation Survey – Seventy percent of survey participants drive in winter conditions—this aligns with the…

There are a substantial number of EP practitioners working in California and the Gig Economy. A California bill (AB5) set to become law is directed…

In the Corporate and HNW community, Kidnap and Ransom (K&R) Insurance is a catalyst for the use of Secure Transportation and Executive Protection. Understanding it,…

Some of the ISDA members from the UK and some of the social media community criticize the Security Industry Authority (SIA). We have seen posts from the UK CP practitioners criticizing the SIA, and we (ISDA) don’t know why.

Though our students are typically experienced professionals – when last surveyed they had, on average, just shy of 15 years of Security Driving/Executive Protection experience – we often get “the question.”

Which Car is the Safest?

The Executive Vehicle & Secure Transportation Survey is conducted biennially since 2013.

Over the last six years, the surveys have covered various aspects of secure transportation. The goal of the survey has been to examine trends and collect data to develop a broader perspective on the secure transportation profession.

Social Media, in general, is a source for entertainment, not a source of knowledge, but there are websites that we provide educational content at no charge.

We hope you had a great week! Here’s what been going within the membership. If you have anything you’d like to share let us know…

To ensure the safety and security of the principal, security drivers and secure transportation providers should understand that all vehicles have inherent characteristics that decrease the performance of the vehicle, and create a dangerous scenario for the principal. One of those characteristics is the vehicle’s static stability factor (SSF).

One of the most asked questions in Social Media and from the ISDA Network is – “What training program should I attend?” When selecting a…

When a vehicle is approaching its limit of adhesion, a driver has two conflicting signals. The first signal is the steering wheel getting light, which means that it requires less effort to increase steering input (turn the steering wheel). The reason for this is that the adhesion the tire makes with the road is getting increasingly smaller – quickly.

The second signal is the vehicle load the driver feels at the back of the seat (their butt), which at the limit of adhesion is high.

The Survey The ISDA Executive Vehicle and Secure Transportation Surveys have indicated that, from year to year, the use of armored vehicles in the private…

The 2017 Executive Vehicle and Secure Transportation Survey and Report will be available by the end of this week to ISDA Members and survey participants…

Since the mid-sixties, Carlos Marighella’s book “The Mini-Manual of The Urban Guerrilla” has been a must-read for terrorist groups throughout the world. The manual is the platform for Al Qaeda’s and Bin Laden’s training manuals.

In light of the recent publishing of Inspire Magazine Issue 17 which calls on its followers to target trains in the US and Europe. We(ISDA)…

Using 80% or above of the vehicle’s capability would more than likely only happen during an emergency (accident or ambush). But what percentage of the vehicle does a Security Driver use while maneuvering through the day to day mundane chore of moving the boss from Point A to Point B, such as driving up to an intersection and slowing down – stopping at a red light – driving on an off ramp or around a corner?

To answer that question, ISDA conducted an experiment.

The Kill Zone is a phrase often associated with high-risk driving, but it can describe any scenario that creates an emergency for the driver. The scenario…

What does a lot of knowledge look like? How about two, two-inch-thick books?

A while back Joe and I decide to put all our articles, posts, white papers, and research not yet published, together in one document.

The goal of collecting the information was to determine if we had enough material for a book. When the information was collected, the results were two, two -inch-thick books. So I guess the answer is yes. The attached is a picture of one of the books, the table of contents is three pages long for each book.

The book was written by Tony Scotti and is more than 30 years old. The 220-page book was intended for executives and the general public…

A book from International Security Driver Association Member  – Steve Collins As the newspapers and television constantly remind us, violent crime is on the increase,…

Last year, in an attempt to get a better understanding of the Skills Gap that exists in the Executive Protection/Secure Transportation profession, ISDA researched the…

Recently, some comments posted in the Social Media post/blogs got my attention. The comments were about females in the industry. Contrary to popular belief, women…

Armored Vehicle Basics – Part One is a short presentation of an upcoming online learning course that will cover Armored Vehicles.

The ISDA 2015 and preliminary data from the 2017 Executive/Security Vehicle Survey indicate a dramatic increase in the use of SUVs for Executive Transportation. The…

Porsche feels that chauffeur driven executives are the Executive Panamera market, and they believe that market is in the US and China, they may be correct, but it all depends on Porsche’s definition of “a market.” Our (ISDA) experience and our surveys indicate that it will be a hard sell.

If a provider supplies “Secure Transportation” They Must Be In Compliance With The IRS Code That defines Secure Transportation. There are many secure transportation providers that use those two words as a marketing tool, BUT if a supplier does not comply with the IRS code, they expose their client to financial risk.

How do you know if all of your efforts on social media are working for your business? You need to measure your efforts and track your social media metrics. You need to look past likes, reactions, followers, connections, etc. as KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators).

Although your U.S. driver’s license lets you drive in many foreign countries, the translations in the IDP are intended to minimize language barriers when you drive in countries where English is not widely spoken or understood.

Former ISDA Member Duke Speed has authored a new book titled “Advance Agent Planning Guide – The Executive Protection Specialist’s Guide for Conducting Advance Operations“….

This is a comment we hear often when we (ISDA) are asked about our certification. Our answer is simple – No offense, but the ISDA…

In reference to the Ohio State attack – This is an article titled, “The Ultimate Mowing Machine,” that appeared in the Jihadist Magazine Inspire. The article…

These pictures are taken from the Al Qaeda magazine Inspire, Issue 16. This issue of the magazine offers lessons on building a pressure cooker bomb and where, when and how to detonate the bomb for maximum effectiveness. The picture outlines the four steps in building a successful pressure cooker bomb.

From 1979 – I’m sure most of the people reading this do not remember the Volvo 242 GT, it was a hell of a performance…

It may not have a high educational value but it is great entertainment. It’s been 15 years since BMW made its first foray into Hollywood…

A Skills Gap is defined as the difference between what the market wants and what is available for skill. This is a common problem in all industries. In an attempt to get a better understanding of the Skills Gap that exists in the Executive Protection/Secure Transportation profession, ISDA researched the job market. Our goal was to determine the skills, education and training, and experience that are the most sought after by the Executive Protection job market.

If you are a Veteran asking one of these two questions, “What schools accept the GI or Post 911 Bill” or “I am about to…

An old book from an old friend – Since its release in 1994, Killing Zone: A Professional’s Guide to Preparing and Preventing Ambushes has been hailed by…

This is an excerpt Transportation Security White Paper I wrote in 1979 (41 Years Ago). The paper was written for the International Association of Chiefs of…

Raffaele Di Giorgio’s book is about protecting our protectors. The men and women, and the agencies they work for, who go out every day and risk…

The Police Ambush Fact Sheet A report produced by the International Association of Chiefs of Police – US Department of Justice community Oriented Policing Services –…

The article titled, “The Ultimate Mowing Machine”, called for jihadists to use a pickup truck as a mowing machine, not to mow grass but to mow down the enemies of Allah. “The ideal location is a place where there are a maximum number of pedestrians and the least number of vehicles.”

If an individual has an average occupation, my guess would be they can survive having average skills. But as a member of the protection profession, you…

Finally, a book for both public and private sector protection professionals who are required to manage protective operations with a minimum of headcount and budget, in an increasingly complex and demanding environment.
As the title suggests, this book is about the lessons learned through several thousand years of trial-and-error, creating and adopting best-practices, striving to provide protection for persons of public interest and others at risk.

Inside the Bubble is a new book authored by ISDA Member Mark James. Mark came to the Protective Services Profession via the corporate community. He is a former corporate executive and performance consultant to Fortune 500 companies and now executive director of a full service protection agency, Panther Protection.

Although Mark is emphatic that his book is not about “Protective Services”, and we agree, it is a book that should be read by all security practitioners.

If you are looking for a job, whether it’s to get your foot in the door, or taking your career to the next level, the only person who can find the right job for you – is you. You know all the details about you: what experience and training skills you have, the location you would like to find work, the market/niche you want to work in and with what companies.

But where do you look to find the best jobs?

If you are relatively new, or have been in the profession for some time; whether you are a sole practitioner looking for the next job; a security provider looking for the next customer or client; or a trainer looking for the next student…

YOU OR YOUR COMPANY ARE A BUSINESS!

This is a promotional video of an upcoming series of online training. The series will discuss in detail the decisions that need to be made when selecting an executive vehicle. The ISDA online training are free for ISDA members and offered at a fee to non-members. All recorded webinars and materials will be available on the ISDA website long after the webinar.

If you enjoy reading and are involved in the profession, ISDA Member Tom Taylor supplies you with a great reading and learning experience. Tom as authored a series of novels based on the EP profession. Tom takes the day to day tasks of a protection team and turns them into a page turning work of fiction. All of Tom’s novels are executive protection handbooks, masquerading as novels. We (ISDA) are a bit prejudice, but in our minds Tom’s novels are better than many EP books.

EP Novels By Tom Taylor

Coming up is the 102nd running of the Indy 500, so I thought I would do a simple analysis of the track; hopefully it will…

This article was originally posted in the November 2015  ISDA Member Newsletter. Considering a recent Fox News broadcast entitled – “Al Qaeda magazine calls for…

Scenario Based Training (SBT) has always proven to be one of the best methods of instruction. This is an introduction to a series of SBT, 3D…

One of the first “vehicle assassinations” was that of Tsar Alexander II in Russia. He was one of the first victims of an assassination in…

State Dept.: 60% of ‘Mishaps’ Involving U.S. Armored Vehicles Overseas Were Preventable My Thoughts This is not only a problem for the State Department overseas;…

This is a video of an upcoming series of online training produced by the International Security Driver Association (ISDA). The online training will incorporate an animated computer…

We are pleased to announce our new ISDA YouTube channel. Although the channel is in its infancy, over the next few months we will be…

ISDA member Deni Athena was recently interviewed by the BBC. Deni is indicative of the ISDA membership, and we are proud to have Deni as…

Starting in the mid 1980’s the Scotti School published a quarterly newsletter for the Protective Services Community. They were hard copies distributed in the old fashion way – US mail. Over the years the newsletter morphed into the ISDA Email Newsletter. ISDA is an acronym for the International Security Driver Association. Although concentrating on secure transportation, the newsletter is of value to all in the protective services profession.
Through the combination of our newsletters and the ISDA Network, ISDA members reach more than 7,500 security practitioners, representing the Corporate, High Net Worth, Military, and government communities. Many of those who read the newsletter cannot be reached via the traditional social media outlets.

An attack on the principal is a time, distance relationship. Moving the principal, driving, or walking is managing time and distance. If there is an attack…

Two topics of discussions that dominate social media, both in the U.S. and abroad are certification and the state of training in the protection industry. In reality, the two subjects cannot be separated. IMHO – The job market wants, and will support, a certification that meets standards set by respected industry and government organizations. Those who supply job opportunities welcome a certification that withstands the scrutiny of the corporate, legal, and insurance community. Nonetheless, there are still global job markets in the protection business where certification, insurance risk, and liability are not major concerns.

This is part two of a post that originated on LinkedIn in October of 2015. The title of the post was “Does Security Driving have…

ISDA Member Robin Barratt has published a manual titled “Finding Work as a Close Protection Specialist” the 2015-2016 updated edition.

On August 21st  the International Security Driver Association (ISDA) conducted the first in a series of Constant Learning Programs for the protective services community. ISDA…

Those of us who live in winter-weather country are just emerging from record-setting snow and freezing temperatures. And now there’s a new problem to face: potholes. Thanks to this winter’s extreme freeze-and-thaw cycles, the spring of 2015 promises to be an epic pothole season. And that’s not good news for those providing secure transportation.

Potholes are a matter of safety and inconvenience. But there are things that can be done before, during, and after hitting a pothole. Develop a proactive approach similar to a security scenario except you’re avoiding potholes instead of security issues.

The book is based on Patrick’s training as a Marine. The title of the book, Left of Bang, comes from the Marines Combat Hunter Course….

The polar plunge that has chilled much of the nation does more than bring out ice scrapers and antifreeze. It can trigger a vehicle’s tire-pressure-monitoring system overnight, sending nervous drivers to dealers and service centers.

For example, about 20 customers visited a Chevrolet dealership because their tire-pressure-warning icons were illuminated. Here’s why a cold snap affects tire pressure and sets off the tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS) warning lamp.

If there is only one business book you read, this is it. The book outlines the steps necessary to create a lasting relationship with clients….

Cold weather can wreak havoc on a vehicle, some useful web articles, and Winter Emergency Kits  to keep you, your principal, and your family safe…

We have read the book, as we have with all of Tom’s books”, and they just keep on getting better. For those who are not…

The History of Security Driving is an old (2013) and short presentation of an upcoming Secure Transportation, online learning course. It is narrated by Tony…

Maintaining correct tire pressure helps optimize tire performance and fuel economy. Correct tire inflation pressure allows drivers to experience tire comfort, durability, and performance designed to match the needs of their vehicles. Tire deflection (the tread and sidewall flexing where the tread comes into contact with the road) will remain as originally designed and excessive sidewall flexing and tread squirm will be avoided. Heat buildup will be managed and rolling resistance will be appropriate. Proper tire inflation pressure also stabilizes the tire’s structure, blending the tire’s responsiveness, traction and handling.

I was watching a TV ad about a 4WD SUV, the announcer was talking about driving on “Black Ice”, and he mentioned that if you…

For some in the industry, especially those just entering the business, there is a misconception of what defines Security Driving, and in particular, the job…

Branding and marketing for the Protection Services Professional – for the freelance Protective Service agent and for those companies providing protective services branding and marketing…