Tmc now requires drivers to get passport and port card

Depending on your state you may be able to upgrade to the enhanced drivers license, which is cheaper than a passport, that's the way we went. The TWIC card costs $132.50, if he's short on pay maybe he can see if they can't advance him the funds and have small deductions each week to pay it back in order to get one. My husband has yet to utilize either his TWIC or enhancement since he got them, but you never know. Guessing if TMC is now requiring it you pretty much haven't much choice other than to scrape it out or find another company, which from what I'm seeing the TWIC and passport things are popping up as a requirement here and there. Best of luck to you!

 

You're right, it will be over $200 for both. Unfortunately, more and more companies might be requiring Passports and TWIC cards (what you called port cards). Unfortunately also that even though you have a TWIC card, some ports also require that Drivers get "their" port card also before gaining entry into their port. Add another $75 or so for "their" card.

who's to blame, one might be Homeland Security. They will not regulate what the individual ports want to do as far as "their" card.

 

I'm in the middle of getting the Passport card, but I won't be dropping any money for the TWIC card. If I'm fired for that then it's their perogative and I'll happily find another job. Nowhere in my contract did it say I would be obligated to buy these things to help the company secure more freight and bottom line is I'm not going to be nickled and dimed any further. I have my hazmat because I use it outside of TMC, when they pay a reasonable rate for pulling hazmat I will pull it. 95% of the freight I've seen does not require HazMat, TWIC, or a Passport so it's not remotely reasonable for them to pass these costs off on us. It wouldn't be "reasonable" if most of their freight required it. Yeah they will deduct the fees from your check over time for these items, that is NOT the point. It's wrong for them to require you to pay for them.

 

Agreed. I've been hearing bad things about TMC from friends, and old trainee's, this being one of them.


Eff that. They can use the money they're saving from taking away prepass to get it for you guys, lol.

 

Or some of the tarp money they plunder from our pockets, or the detention money they don't pay.

 

Are you kidding me!

What type of haz-mat gets hauled on one of tmc's flat bed trailers!

Does tmc go to any ports in the north-east, along the eastern seaboard or out on the west coast.

I have never seen a ship container on a tmc flatbed trailer.

 

With the economy the way it is and this company wants an employee to spend close to $275.00 to obtain this stuff!

 

Hazmat is almost exclusively roofing glue. From what I understand it's more delivering cargo TO a port and yeah I've never seen a connex on a TMC truck. There is freight in Canada, I was sent a load to Ontario a few weeks ago but I had to remind my FM that my birth certificate was currently residing in the State Department with my Passport card application. From what I understand there is freight TO Canada just not much FROM Canada.

 

I just got my TWIC Card a few weeks ago. When you inquire about it, be sure to tell them you have your Haz-Mat. The TWIC basically requires you to go through the same fingerprints and background check, by the same agency that did your haz-mat. If I remember correctly, they cut the price down to about half if you have your haz-mat because they only need to re-check your criminal record and issue your card. Mine was ready to pick up in 2 weeks.