Prime, TWIC and Passport

You're not required to have either to start training. They may have you apply for them while at Springfield, there is a twic office there where they take care of everything and they shuttle people to the post office to register for passports. Unless they changed something recently, you may not have to get a passport or twic to drive for prime. I know many prime drivers don't have them. Again, they may require you to get them now, talk to a recruiter with any doubts, it's best to have them anyway so your eligible for more loads.

Prime forum: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/prime/

 

I was required to carry both in the truck while driving for prime

 

TWIC is 132 dollars

 

It depends on what they want you to do when you get out of school, Go to Canada, p/u in the ports or both? If you're just new to the biz they'd (Prime that is) would probably have you under a trainer for a few months (If their smart & do it right) otherwise I'd wait till later when you have your own truck to consider TWIC at least, You want to avoid Canada unless they pay good money..The border's a Hot Mess on a good day..I was delivering at the tip of Mich yrs ago & on the CB drivers were complaining about the long lines going in & out of Canada plus the inspection on the trucks is lengthy & that was 2 yrs B4 9/11 now it's worse...I've walked cross the border to Mexico fm Hildalgo TX yrs ago w/just Drivers License as I.D. now you have to hv a passport to go to that same border & back...No wait until later unless they you something different...I have a TWIC which exp. in Nov I got while I was off on medical on a prev.job because I hauled containers in & out of the piers everyday & it came in handy on the next job when I p/u a flatbed ld at the Port of Philadelphia last year.....OK? View attachment 52589

 

Prime will advance you the money to make your TWIC and passport applications once you get to MO. They will take that out of your check (once you start making $$) in reasonable installments. The shuttle will take you to the locations you need to go.

 

This ^^^

You wont have to pay out of pocket. They charge prime and prime takes it out of your checks. Its kinda weird on how prime requires them. Your suppose to have at least applied for passport, TWIC, and hazmat before you go solo. However there are so many drivers who don't get them that I doubt they care. Basically if you have TWIC, passport, and hazmat you can have extra load opportunities while others in the area sit. But at the same time, at least if your company, its forced dispatch ... meaning if they want you to go to Canada, and you have a passport then buckle up my friend lol.

 

I have both, never been sent to Canada. I already haf a passport and twice now have used it to go to Europe on vacation.

Company drivers are required to get them and start the process as trainees.

what happens if you don't get one? Well, I had a trainee that had to sit a the truck stop while I went into the Galveston port for 4-5 hours.

same thing happens at the border, but in a hotel room.

Once you go solo: not getting a TWIC card will not prevent a driver from getting a port load. You just get to deal with all the hassles of waiting and paying for an escort.

Lease ops can do what the want and not required to get either one.