Twic

[GMAN]

I think most people know when something is not right and most drivers have enough sense to call the cops. I have called them on a couple of occasions and never saw a cop anywhere. I even gave them the mile marker. I suppose they expect us to handle everything ourselves. I heard that Sonny has changed his mind about having all Georgia CDL holders to join highway watch since the money was withdrawn.

[Ridge Runner]

I had forgot all about highway watch. :eek: I had to renew my CDL last month and the guy at the DMV never ask for it. I have it, I just forgot I have it. Guess that just shows how much of an impression that silly program left on me. :rolleyes:

[GMAN]

I need to renew my license. It expires in a couple of months. I think that I should probably go ahead and renew it before the last minute. I have a couple of friends who are not getting their hazmat. We are tired of the extra tax. None of us haul hazmat anyway. I haven't hauled a hazmat in several years. I don't see the need since the rates are about the same.

[jagerbomber3.0]

I came through the gates at one of our terminals yesterday and they were handing out fliers to all of us regarding TWIC, they want us all to pay the $132 out of pocket to get it and they will re pay us at 25 a month or something like that until it is paid then if we leave the company they take that fee back out of our last check since our TWIC card is no good to them at that point. What a joke, I have not even been even remotely close to a port entry since i started with them either. I Dont want to give that money and i dont need to.

[GMAN]

I wish more drivers would refuse to pay these extra taxes. TWIC and hazmat are nothing but an added tax. I think that we all pay way too much taxes. These are just another slap in the face of hard working drivers. Neither do anything for security, which is their purported purpose. What they do is add millions to the government coffers. You don't need a hazmat endorsement to steal a truck. The TWIC will also not do anything to make the ports safer. The government is trying to turn over the management to those in the Middle East who are not our friends and they expect us to go through a background check and pay them to boot?

[Fredog]

I had forgot all about highway watch. :eek: I had to renew my CDL last month and the guy at the DMV never ask for it. I have it, I just forgot I have it. Guess that just shows how much of an impression that silly program left on me. :rolleyes:

I renewed mine last July and they asked for it. Luckily, I had it with me.

[DaveP]

I came through the gates at one of our terminals yesterday and they were handing out fliers to all of us regarding TWIC, they want us all to pay the $132 out of pocket to get it and they will re pay us at 25 a month or something like that until it is paid then if we leave the company they take that fee back out of our last check since our TWIC card is no good to them at that point. What a joke, I have not even been even remotely close to a port entry since i started with them either. I Dont want to give that money and i dont need to.

I suppose that's going to happen to a lot of company drivers.

I was informed last week by my fleet manager that it would be required for ALL company drivers.

I "pre-applied" online last week and found out I could get one at the riverport in Decatur, AL (40 miles from the house) but...I'm going to wait till they make me go get it OR offer to pay the $132.50 fee..

I DO haul out of ports in New Orleans, Philly, Mobile now and then...

Next thing you know they'll be charging a "qualified to wear a hardhat and safety glasses" license...

[belpre122]

they want us all to pay the $132 out of pocket to get it and they will re pay us at 25 a month or something like that until it is paid then if we leave the company they take that fee back out of our last check since our TWIC card is no good to them at that point. What a joke,

Definitely a joke! What crap company are you referring to jagerbomber? Sounds like a company to stay away from.

[GMAN]

I don't think it is the responsibility of any carrier to pay for their drivers to get a TWIC or any other permit. After all, you would not ask them to pay for your CDL. It is a nice gesture but should not be expected. It is much like a mechanic who furnishes his own tools. He is required to furnish his own tools in order to do his job. It is the same thing with a truck driver. Some carriers require a hazmat endorsement to work for them. If they want to pay for it then that is their decision. As a driver you may or may not make more money by having the hazmat endorsement. To me it is a matter of choice. You choose to get the endorsement so that you can work for a certain carrier. You choose to get a TWIC in order to work for a certain company. If you don't want to spend the money then don't. You should not expect the carrier to just fork out the money so that you can have them. If they do pay for them then it is up to the carrier to decide what restrictions, if any, they put on them in order for them to reimburse the driver. Unless they put some restrictions on how they reimburse drivers for the endorsement or TWIC some drivers would come to work for them, get the card or endorsement and then leave. If a carrier is expected to pay for these things then there should be some accountability.