Priorities

Long story short; after a number of factors outside my control, I was unable to start school when I thought, but will next week.

Due to a gap between the cost of the school and the grant I am receiving under the WIA, I need to absorb some of the costs temporarily out of pocket (I will be seeking employer reimbursement for only the funds I pay out). Because of this, my thoughts to complete school and have everything I need in hand to make myself as valuable as possible, I need to space them out. I had decided to come out with the tests passed for the HazMat, Doubles/Triples, and Tankers endorsements. Since I need to space out the costs involved with:

Passport Card: $55
HazMat Endorsement Threat Assessment program (HME) Fingerprint/Background: $86.50
TWIC: $129.75

How would I prioritize these so that I can say that they are all at least in process soon after hire?

 

Well like yourself, I am heading off to school but not until 10/10 and going through a company rather than a school. I already went and got my permit with endorsements and TWIC.

My opinion after making many calls and hearing from A LOT of the guys and gals here on the forums, is that it depends on what you want to drive and what company you go with.

For instance I went and got ALL endorsements so that way I don't have to go and test for them later, got my TWIC and not worried about my passport. This way, for the same reason as you, I would be more marketable to companies.

 

This is why I am asking minds better than mine here....

 

well not knowing where your hailing from, or what your looking for, otr, reefer, flat, hot shot, oil field, parking lot, tanker i'd say use the velcro approach, through it all against the wall and goes with what sticks.

2 ways to make good money. get your tanker and hazmat and get hired on being a tanker yanker, or go flatbed and eventually get into oversize. if i had it to do over, i'd go the tanker route.

As for the passport, again, have NO CLUE where you live, and what you WANT TO DO but i'd hold off on that for now. Hazmat, then twic.

Best of luck there future Driver.

 

You do know a lot of companies don't require any of those.

If I wanted them or thought they were needed.

I would do HM
TWIC, Passport.

 

I am in Sacramento, CA and know that to get the TWIC involves a fingerprint/background check as well. So I am thinking the HME for the HazMat, then the Passport, and then the TWIC?

 

Hazmat first, it opens a lot of opportunities. as far as twic or passport, it depends on where you live and who you work for. if you live or want to drive by the border get passport. if you are by the cost and want to go to ports get the twic. however if you get hazmat and twic at the same time you get a discount because they can use the same background check

 

well I will put it this way. I went in for my Hazmat and TWIC background on September 10. I checked the website when I got home at 2PM and it had already processed and I was approved. I received my TWIC card in the mail 7 days later (PIN 3 days after that) and my HazMat letter about the same time I got my PIN. I don't know how its processed out there, but it was quick as hell here in Georgia.

As for your passport, you can pay a bit more if you had it "rush" processed so if you don't have the extra dough right now to get it, I would hold off.

 

1. Hazmat
2. TWIC
3. Passport

That is my 2 cents. I don't have a passport but I also don't plan on leaving the country anytime soon either.