Hazmat and TWIC

I can handle that as long as I get to wear the crown!

 

I have both Hazmat and Twic plus a passport. When I hired on with my current company I was told they don't haul hazardous materials and that the Twic card would be needed at times. So far I have needed my Twic card 4 times and my passport 3 times. I figure having these in my possession might open more doors when things are slow.

 

Nothing wrong with being as qualified as you can. especially if your looking for employment. Thats less money your potential employer has to spend, and if your competing for a position, it could mean the difference between getting the job and not getting it.

You never know where you may have to go, or what you may be required to haul, why not be prepared.

 

Any employer worth working for will reimburse you for the hazmat , TWIC , and passport . Mine also pays $125 to take the hazmat recertification training online at home .

 

There is always a cost of doing business. When I was in contruction I had to buy a tool belt, tools and all, and when I went into the business world I had to buy suits, brief cases, laptops, and drop more than a few $20's at kinko's for presentations. All t make myself more marketable. In school, my instructor told me of a time when she and several other drivers were waiting or a load, dispatch went down the line and asked "do you have hazmat?" after sevral no's they got to her and she did have hazmat and got the load. The load contained 1 pallet of spray paint and that is why it called for hazmat.
The way I look at it, it cost me $4,500 for tuition, $89.91 for hazmat, $105 fo twic, and afew other misc. expenses, so all in all around $5000 and a month of school. Now my neighbor who is a doctor had $150,000 in student loans and it took years.
I have all the endorsements. I would rather have them and not need them, than need them and not have them.
I went from school to a small local company, there was a guy who applied the same time I did, he didn't have any of the endorsements or a twic card but said he could get them if they wanted. I came in with them already. I do believe that helped me get hired.

 

Like many said here it not a bad idea to all endorsements and a TWIC card, especially if you live in a Port City. I've been to a port once, but have hauled a few Hazmat loads.

 

The more you have the more hire able you are. But I think they are a waste of time if you don't haul product that needs them on a regular bases. I have a TWIC, Big help if you run refer. Could be there deferents between sitting and running. I dropped the Haz-mat, 1 out of 500 loads for a refer company is Haz-mat. No worth my time. Going to Canada is a pain in the butt. I see plenty of Canadian drivers down here. Let them haul it up there.

 

I had to renew my haz today. What a pain and a rip off. Go to MVD and wait in line. Fill out a single piece of paper. Wait 30 minutes and go to another room. Girl look at medical card and license. She take 32 bucks and gives you the rules on taking the test. Go to another room and the test is done on a computer touch screen. There 30 questions. Got done in 9 minutes. Go back to the second room and the girl tell me I pass and gives me info on the back ground check. Go to the next room to get my new license. The guy ask me if I want a new picture or use the old one. For 32 bucks I just paid. I want a new one. After 10 minutes. I get it. Now jump in my car and drive down where they do finger print. Get there and lady said I should do the application over the net. I can pay for it then. It will be in the system. Now tomorrow I go back and get finger printed and they can start the back ground check. This cost $89.00. Just more money to squeeze out of people.

 

Yea...I did that back in August here in WI.

$116 for the license with all endorsements PLUS written Hazmat test,
taken on a touch screen.

Then must wait 24hrs.

Apply online for Hazmat TSA checks and pay $40 for fingerprinting
online - cant pay in person. Won't accept payment at facility.

Then wait 24hrs.

Show up for fingerprints. Told 2-4 weeks for final license.
License showed up within 1 week.

- TWIC was discounted from $135 to $105 due to the Hazmat.
- FAST was $50
- Passport and Passport Card was $120 (never had one)