What is TWIC and do I need to have this?

It's your ID to get into ports. It all started with 9/11. To top it off I think it was Aurora, IL that started it all. You have to travel 2000 miles by canoe to get there by water.

TWIC is required by the companies that frequent ports but it's not mandatory at many companies. My last company said I had to have it and I jumped right on it. Then I'd go to a port and the company was paying other drivers without a TWIC for an escort which is how you get in without a TWIC card.

If you do get it and go through the process of the background check go ahead and get your hazmat and you'll save a little money instead of getting two separate background checks. Then your renewals will be aligned with each other too.

It won't make or break your career. You can wait until you can afford it.

Here's more info... http://www.tsa.gov/stakeholders/transportation-worker-identification-credential-twic®

 

No. TWIC stands for Transportation Workers Identification Certificate. It is used mainly to get into the ports to pic up containers and loads for flatbeds. If you decide to do flatbed or haul containers, you will need this. Other than that for van or reefer you don't need it but it is good to have because some companies pick up from the ports as well. Medical card you need in order to obtain and hold a CDL.

 

If you live near a foreign free trade zone or other port, and truck in/out of the area often, you may eventually be ahead of the game to have one. Dry van and reefer drivers will need a TWIC too if they need access to a port and/or international airport freight zones

 

There's probably 100 loads of bananas moving everyday. That's just bananas. There's all kinds of imported fruits and vegetables. I've picked up paper, rubber, Made in China china and all kinds of port loads. A lot of your containers don't move far before they are cross docked. They'll run I-10, I-95, Great Lake cities a lot feeding them cities. Otherwise it's van or reefer feeding inland so the container doesn't have far to go back. I'd say it's balanced 50/50.

Something like that.

 

For what it is worth--and up to you---but probably depends on your carrier--for a few different reasons--I steadfastly REFUSE to get one--same reason I dropped my Haz--and it has had Zero effect on me--NOW I have been to many many places that require one--and in all cases--it just required waiting for and escort--to lead/or follow you--and many of the east coast ports have gone to just off site transfers to get around the in/out port issues--which is the case with most of the NJ/De banana loads......
Did have one military installation make me take an armed sgt--in truck w/me back to the food warehouse they had--but no biggie--besides he provided the coffee--
So so far it has been a non issue

 

don't be teaching the kids all your bad habits
let him learn his own

 

I like yourself--no longer have BAD HABITS--just standard day to day living procedures