Originally Posted by GMAN (Post 428341)

I lost a couple of loads this week due to not having a TWIC. That doesn't mean that I am ready to go out and pay the TWIC tax. I do some military freight as well. Military loads haven't been paying that well lately so if I miss a couple of military loads then I haven't lost much. I know one carrier who now requires new hires to have a TWIC, but they go into the ports frequently. I can understand why some would spend the money since it may not be an option with some carriers. I have not yet made up my mind whether I will spend the money or not. As of now, I am leaning toward not getting one. I am making some changes in my business which will make it easier to not need to go into the ports. I also don't think that I will pay the fee for the hazmat. That will save me a couple of hundred dollars. One other thing to keep in mind is that those who are performing these checks are private companies. You don't know where that information will be stored or how well it will be secured. My question is when is enough enough? Let's take a look at the revenue generated by these two programs. If a million drivers paid for the hazmat tax then that will generate $94 million, providing everyone pays the same $94 fee. Add the TWIC tax for the same number of drivers and that adds another $132.5 million at $132.50 per driver. If Lockheed Martin is doing both programs then they are generating a potential revenue stream of more than $200 million. That is more than $200,000,000. That is a lot of revenue. I am not sure that it does anything other than make money for the contractor and government. It adds more that $200 for every CDL holder who chooses to pay the tax.

Originally Posted by terrylamar (Post 445296)

Someone told me that if you don't have your TWIC and you need an excort, you have to pay for the escort. I don't think he knew what he was talking about.

Originally Posted by terrylamar (Post 445296)

Another driver told me, that he had a TWIC and sometimes he would be by the port and our drivers that didn't have a TWIC would have to let him take into the port and deliver. He said he made good money whenever that happened.

Originally Posted by GMAN (Post 445406)

It is amazing how many new names our elected representatives can come up with for taxes other than calling them a tax.

Originally Posted by GMAN (Post 445690)

Somebody grab the rope. :argue:

Originally Posted by slacker (Post 446803)

I got my TWIC to get into the port at Galveston.

I wish I had a copy of the application to post because it has some really interesting stuff in it, ie. all the different classifications of aliens that can get a TWIC. Basically they are looking for people that have plotted insurection against our government or other treasonist activities. Ironically, all the 911 terrorists and Timothy McVey, sp?, would've not fallen into that category. I don't think you can get a TWIC card if you owe back child support.

I wish they would use something similar to TWIC as a national ID card and deport everyone that didn't have one. It would ge worth the $130 fee.


slacker