[GMAN]

Beginning January 1 and before in some areas a TWIC will be required to enter most U.S. ports and some shippers. Apparently, many drivers have not decided whether to pay the TWIC TAX. Few have gotten the TWIC card. The government seems to continue throwing additional taxes our way. I wonder what would happen if most drivers simply refused to pay the tax and get a TWIC card? Much of the freight that is hauled in this country comes from our ports. The trucking industry shut this country down about 30 or so years ago. If only a handful of drivers had the TWIC then only those few could access the ports. Since they cannot handle all of the freight coming through those ports this country could conceivably come to a halt.

[ronjon619]

I TWIC'ed

[mike3fan]

If I didn't I wouldn't have my job,simple as that.

[Maniac]

"The trucking industry shut this country down about 30 or so years ago."




Not much chance of that happening ever again, and I think you know why.

I have my TWIC card, wasn't crazy about having to get it, but I wasn't crazy about the CDL when it came out either.

Wait till you see the NEW regulations regarding medical cards, and CDL renewals.

[marylandkw]

I did it just for the opportunity for more work. I figure there will be alot of Drivers who can't or won't get it and that opens up another avenue for revenue and at the end of the day that is all that matters, revenue.

I do understand where you are coming from GMAN, I hate that I have to pay for my TWIC and Hazmat and think of them as special taxes but I would rather bite the bullet, pay the tax and win in the end. At least that is how I see it.

[RostyC]

As soon as I walked through the door at the TWIC office down on Broening highway I knew it was a scam. If you're going to steal money from people at least put up some real walls, not curtains. But like MDKW said above, I figured maybe some guys won't be able to get one, although now I think anyone with $132.50 will somehow get approved.

In short I TWIC'ed. I pick the card up on the 18th of December. Anyone wanna carpool?

[rank]

alot of our shippers move the fright from the port to a staging area. personally i prefer that. probably will twic tho.

[Copperhead]

When the day comes I need it, I'll ponder the issue. Right now, I have no need for the thing so I am not going to get "twic'd". I never go into ports or sensitive customers that are going to require it. Won't do military hauling, so.... why bother getting twic'd?

[BanditsCousin]

Steve Booth got his TWIC. Therefore, all of you should!

(its a fact- he told me the other week)

[2]

TWIC Noncompliance Could Close Ports, Industry Rep Says
By Matthew Harwood
11/21/2008 -

LONG BEACH, California - Major West Coast ports could shut down next spring if enough workers fail to acquire and carry the new Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card by April 15, 2009, a trade association official told stakeholders at the Maritime Security Expo Wednesday.

Nationwide, approximately 400,000 TWIC cards have been activated, according to a Congressional source, only one third of the 1.2 million the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) estimates are required.

TWIC Noncompliance Could Close Ports, Industry Rep Says | Security Management

Required ID card hinders port jobs
Background checks for a security mandate rule some employees out.
By Mike Morrison Story updated at 11:20 AM on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008

"This is another added layer of security for our ports and our port facilities," said Petty Officer Michael Hulme, a Coast Guard spokesman. "It covers anybody who works at ports, the majority of which are truck drivers."
...
Those with infrequent business at port facilities must be escorted when they visit, Wehunt said

Required ID card hinders port jobs | Jacksonville.com

12/08/08 TWIC data 'irretrievably lost' on 3,000 applicants
About 3,000 transportation workers who applied for their new Homeland Security Department-sponsored identification cards have had their application data “irretrievably lost” from the cards' database, according to Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
...
About 700,000 TWIC cards have been issued to date, the TSA said.

TWIC data 'irretrievably lost' on 3 000 applicants

The pressure is barely detectable, but it is building. If and when freight volumes and rates pick up, the ports may well have to provide escorts.

The jury will be out for a while.
I have no enthusiasm for it.

Taxes - they just keep on coming. Tempers are rising all across this country, and with a protracted down turn in the economy, it won't take much of a spark for things to get ugly.