TWIC?

It all depends on what you do or what you want to do. I pull a propane tanker. Have to have it, no ifs and or buts about it. Its a must at oil and propane loading facilities. I dont think a company that transports oil, propane or gasoline will hire you. I would advise anyone who has their hazmat and tanker endorsment to get it. It could come in handy. Well worth the $132 bucks.

 

You don't need one.

I have one, used for pulling into the ports, and I'm glad I have it. Just like I'm glad to have the Doub/Trip, HazMat, and Tanker endorsements.

Flexibility is your friend.

 

Where would i go yo get a twic card? I have all endorcements doubles/triples, tanker and haz-mat.

 

If you need to haul from the L.A. and Long Beach ports you will need the TWIC....

Also...the TWIC will make it a heck of a lot smoother to get onto military installations and D.C.s such as Lowe's in Stockton.....
A TWIC holder is already pre-cleared....

 

To get a TWIC card I googled it. You have to set your self up with a pass word and user name. Read the instructions well on this, they have a special way they want you to do it. Then you apply on line at thier site. You will have to choose a location near you, then you make an appointment. Its easy, no big deal.

 

Go here.

You can google it, too, but why not take out a step, eh?

The process takes a couple of weeks, with background checks and such. But once you've got it, it's like a license. It doesn't expire for several years.

 

We get backhauls from a few of the port authorities on the SoCal coast, LA, Port Hueneme, etc... So my company wanted us to have one...

If you go into these areas, you really should have a TWIC. Otherwise, they will charge you additional money, one, to enter the facility, and two, if you need to be "escorted" anywhere inside the facility besides the dock area you're assigned to...(like going to the crapper, really!)

The card costs $128.00 and you need a couple of "approved" IDs, like your CDL and SS card... We were reimbursed by the company for the cost. You fill out a questionnaire, answers a few questions with an interviewer, do the fingerprint thing and that's about it...

Like many other "government run" programs, it's a bit of a PITA to go through the process, you need an appointment to interview, you need another appointment to pick up the card (which you must do in person as they won't mail it to you). The usual run-around...

It's good for 5 years....

 

They must've have changed Port Huemune because I went there for a P/U there and I didn't and still don't have one. Unless a you goes into a port regularly you don't need one.

 

If you didn't need a TWIC there, it's because you either didn't actually go into a restricted area or they haven't rolled into the program yet.

The TWIC program is gradually rolling out between last year (or the year before) and 2012, I think? So there's some ports that require it, some that don't yet, but eventually all will, so if your carrier goes into the ports regularly, they're wise to just beat the rush.

 

They are talking about military loads needing them in the future. Be a good investment to have. I have had mine for a while now.