TWIC

I let the hazmat fall off my license when they started charging for the background check. It is the same company that does both the TWIC and hazmat, but charge twice. They say that it is separate, but it seems to me that if we are to have a background check, one should suffice for any endorsements, etc., Were it not for having to pay almost $100 for a background check on the hazmat, I would probably have kept it. Maybe I am naive, but if those of us who have had the hazmat for years have not blown up something by now, we are not likely to do so. In fact, I would like to know if any of the so called security or background checks have actually helped stop or catch any terrorists. We are more likely to have terrorism shipped through our ports than those of us who pick up or deliver from the U.S. Most of those classified as terrorists were not natural born citizens of the U.S. They were naturalized or non citizens. I find it interesting that many of those from the Middle East are given a pass, but if you are an American they think we should be scrutinized more than these outsiders. I have always felt that it is more about the money than security. I think that these multiple checks, especially from the same company, is nothing but a shakedown of the American trucker. I think most truckers love this country. We may disagree on some political issues, but we do love our country. We don't necessarily like what is being done to it with all the political correctness and socialist agenda's.

 

I have had to show my twic only once. my company paid the 132.oo for me to get it, and i got a extra penney on my pay.

 

Yeah my company paid for my twic as well and also reimburse for the hazmat. But I do agree it is a rip off, they even told me since I already had twic it should not take as long for hazmat to come back but it still took a good while. I also know what you mean about extra badges in sc we have to get an extra one to get into some places, then some one has to pay for them. It makes no sense.

 

Actually, you can use your HAZMAT background check to get your TWIC & take a discount for not needing an additional background check.

Now the discount isn't all that much... $105 vs $132... & another downside is that if your licence will expire in less than 5 years, than so will your TWIC... it will expire when your licence does.

Doing it that way does speed up the process.... mine was ready to be picked up in a week.

Amen to that!

 

Amen to that: it's all a scam to make more cash off of drivers.

Yeah, *I* have to have HAZMAT and TWIC, but then then government is going to let Mexican drivers run all over the place with questionable credentials and insurance.

 

You do get a discount on the TWIC if you already have a hazmat. I was told that they do separate background checks. I don't see any need to have two background checks. Both pretty much check the same thing. It only took about 10 days for my TWIC to get back, even without the hazmat. It depends on where you live and where you apply. I happen to have a TWIC office in my home town. They aren't nearly as busy as some of the major port cities. We have an inland port, but it isn't as busy as Savannah or one of the other major port cities. If you need a TWIC and don't live near one of the issuing cities, you could be forced to drive several hundred miles just to apply. Once it is approved and issued, you must go back to the office where you applied to pick up your card.

 

alot of companies are requiring this as it helps lower there insurance and also helps weed out the bad or drivers who have had problems , alot of people don't know you can deduct the price of this and your background checks on your taxes if its a requirement of your employment ( not used for everyday driving of a car ) like doctors can deduct there licenses to perform medicine , In Chicago there is talks of having them for entrance into a Railyard too , IMO it will help weed out the Illegals who are taking our jobs and working for substandard wages and driving bombers on the road , as they cannot get them legally , and most port authorities are supposed to have readers , if not call the coast guard and report them . its USCG thats requireing us to have them ( there rules not ours ) . not the ports . as for the ports having there own , they are supposed to allow us entrance into the port as this a federal ID card . those who complain well as they say you have to pay to play .. and what are you hiding ?? the cost is less than .40 a day for a year , heck for the .40 it will make me $33-50 more a day which I think is a good payback ( its actually .08 per day over the 5 years ... ) and only takes 1 hour for the printing and questionaire . sounds like some people like to be pennie rich for dollar poor when it comes to thinking .

 

Like vetteman said....

My company told me it was mandatory and I footed the expense. It kind of made me mad because I just renewed my license and had to foot the $$$ for the hazmat background check about the same time. Why not combine the two background checks and stop ripping us off.

Then I go to ports and see some of our drivers there without TWIC getting company paid escorts.

It just ain't fair i tell ya! It just ain't fair!

 

around here ( chicago ) the Illinois State police are doing the best they can , they have been busting Illegals without licenses and some who think they can peel off the placards off the containers and haul them down the road without them because they don't have the hazmat endorsements and they are going after the employers inthe process , its not being said out loud but they are doing this . ( most of the railheads have cameras and they check for placards before the unit is let loose out of yard , but the idiots are peeling them off in the lanes after the checkout not realizing they are on camera and the rail calls the state police . also some of the rail heads put your endorsements into the computer if you not endorsed they will not release it ( BNSF and Up are this way)

also if your against the mexican trucking program , don't sit here and whine contact your state rep in washington and say NO ! I have to my senators and congessman . your voice counts !

 

as for the double background checks yes its BS but look how our goverment is run .. but if you have one the other will find the info on you easier , as the haz mat is FBI/HSA and the TWiC is coastguard 2 seperate agencies , I have 4 sets of prints with the gov't so my card was aproved in 3 days , I used to work with radioactive materials and in powerplants , and had a perc card ( to be a armed security guard ) worked in a school for mentally Handicapped children and I was going to be a state trooper back when I was younger. so its not a issue for me. all of the jobs paid good money .