To twic or not to twic
 

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.

I TWIC'ed

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

"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.

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.

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? :D

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

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?

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

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

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

Required ID card hinders port jobs | Jacksonville.com

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.

What is a twic ? never ever heard of it.

(You'll earn it back in short order taking the loads that GMAN will be disqualified from)

Exactly MDKW! It may suck......but pay the fee.....and let GMAN and the other trucker/political activists sit there and educate each other on Channel 19 while you pull the freight.

Leave the political dissertations to the Illinois Governor's office!

so which is it? 400,000 or 700,000,seems like the naysayers can't even agree on how many have got twic'd yet.

Atleast I know that I can always go back to hauling cans if no one else is getting or can't get it.

nothing will be done

Yep, let's stike against TWIC, that worked so well against fuel prices. :o

Sometimes you can't fight city hall, I got my twic card but I have a problem with individual ports still makingyou buy there pass 35 dollars here 85 there. The twic should be the only one since it is federal. Also over 100,000 people dave been denied the new twic.

Good question. I was wondering that myself. I've not needed one, so I had no idea either. :lol:
Here are some FAQs about twic.
TSA: Frequently Asked Questions

Right there, in the quotes....
As of 11/21/08 - 400,000.
As of 12/08/08 - 700,000

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.

For those who are not familiar with the TWIC. It is the Transportation Workers Identification Card. There are only a handful of locations across the country where you can get a card. Those who possess the cards have supposedly gone through an extensive FBI background check. It is the same for the hazmat background check. They are essentially the same background check with a different fee.

I have one ready to be picked up...only because it was a comany requirement.

Oh, and GMAN...I also wonder HOW that information is being used.

I had a MI driver tell me that when he picked his up they had a "special" room set up and were arresting some who came in for their cards due to things such as back child support, missed court dates, oustanding fines, etc....

I have been wondering for some time about where all of this information is stored and how it is being used. I have suspected from the beginning that the government is building a database on those possessing a CDL. It is all about control. It is much easier to compile data on individuals when they willingly supply the information themselves. In some cases you either supply the information or you don't work. Some carriers are forcing some drivers to get a TWIC before hiring them. That also includes owner operators who lease to them. The hazmat endorsement is the same thing. The main reason we are being forced to get these two items is money. There is absolutely no reason to do one background check much less two. All the government really needs to do is run a background check when you get your license. It will tell them anything that they really need to know. There is a lot of information the government wants to collect that they are not entitled to know or have a need to gather. Rather than concerning themselves about drivers entering the ports they should spend more time inspecting containers before they reach our shores. We have seen in recent years how well the government safegards our data. There have been instances where computers have been stolen from cars with sensitive data by people who should never have had the information in the first place. We have also seen computer hackers get into databases of major banks and investment companies. I see no reason why we should trust them with more information when they have shown that they cannot safegard the information they have already collected that we should trust them with additional information.

This won't be for everyone, but it seems like the clearest lay of the land I know. The first time was just overload, but the second time...it just started making sense.

Remember the Maastricht Treaty, when Europe was transforming from a continent to a country? I mean, c'mon, they have a single currency and decisions from the EU OVERRULE decisions made in each individual country...er...state.

Again, it's not for everyone:

End Game - Google Video#

I would suggest that as we continue into this uncertain economic situation that available loads that meet your criteria(min haul rate, lanes, etc)will likely decrease and you voluntarily removing all TWIC loads from consideration might haunt you down the road. Or I could be talking out my butt and you will never notice. But it is a possibility.I feel kinda dirty about my twic now. Very good questions indeed and I have no answers.

I am not saying that I will never pay the TWIC tax. I did let my hazmat go today. I would have kept it but didn't want to spend the money to be on some huge database. I came very close to paying the hazmat tax but opted today to not do it. My license expires in a few days and I didn't want to pay the additional tax. I haven't hauled a hazmat load in perhaps 5 years or even longer. Hazmat usually doesn't may much more if any at all and I don't think I want to pay the extra for the endorsement. If I decided to lease back on with a carrier such as Landstar then I would need to spend the money for the endorsement. I think that I pay enough taxes. I don't want to be on another database that can be accessed by anyone who happens to want it. I am not saying that no one else should pay the tax for the TWIC or hazmat, but as of now I have no plans for doing it.

If you plan on doing business with the ports then it will be necessary to have the TWIC. I am making plans where I won't need it. On the other hand there may be more loads that I could lose if I don't get the card. None of my drivers have the card. One was planning on getting one but if we make the changes we plan then it won't be necessary and we won't be doing business with the ports. As far as I am concerned I am tired that every time I turn around I am hit with a forced tax just because of my profession. The government is also planning on pushing through these black boxes and speed limiters for all trucks in the U.S. I just get tired of all the mandates. This industry has so many rules and regulations that it is difficult for us to run our businesses for having to comply with all of their useless rules and regulations. OK, enough of my rant. :cool:

What get me is that the TWIC's, Hazmat and Fast card all require the same "Background investigation" but don't carry over.

It they carried over the government would not make nearly as much money. Besides, this way we can feel three times as safe and secure. :roll:

Yeah, right GMAM !! :) The only time I feel safe doing anything that I haul that has anything to do with "Govmint" is a deal I have hauling some real heavy, small, containers to a place in Nevada. I know they love me cuz I have to wear these thingies, 2, all the time I have the load on plus the one I got when I first signed the contract 4 years ago that stays in the truck 24/7/365. They check them everyday when on the road with a load and say "Not glowing in the dark yet today" :) :)

Hey WE, at least you haven't been saddled with one of them there "hazmat ping pong ball" loads yet. I've been told that these loads are routed through areas containing the most bodies of water.................;)

You need to open one of those containers to make sure it is properly secured. After all, you can't depend on the government to tell you the truth. Someone has to check those to make sure that they are labeled correctly. ;)

I Dooon't think so. I don't even see them load or unload the trailer they send a truck out to get it and bring it back about 3 to 3 1/2 hours later all nicely washed. :)

I bet they wash it like they did that girl in Silkwood.

LOL Jumbo.........did you hear that on Bubba a couple of weeks ago? I couldn't stop laughing from Indy to Kokomo on that one!:rofl:

Twic
 

I was at the Houston port March 9, 2009, they have a huge sign posted advising NO ACCESS AFTER APRIL 14, 2009 WITHOUT A TWIC.

With the current push on to enforce this card, drivers with/without can expect delays. O/O & employers can find CURRENT & helpful information at either of the 3 site links below:



TWIC™ - Transportation Workers Identification Credential

https://twicprogram.tsa.dhs.gov/TWICWebApp/

TSA: Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

I got my TWIC. Luckily I didn't have to pay for it.....thank you FedEx. A couple of the refineries I go to require it. Thing is....I still need a damn escort. Still have to wait 20 minutes outside for the escort to come get you. Spend 10 mins unloading. Then wait 30 mins for the escort to return to take you back out. I don't get why the point is of having it other then the government just made a butt-load of money of us.

The best gig in all of trucking is being a TWIC escort.

None of these background checks has anything to do with safety or security. It is all about the money. They can do a background check in a few minutes and find out anything that they want. This would be a non issue if there wasn't any money involved. So far I have resisted getting a TWIC. If you still need an escort then I don't see the need for the background check. It makes no sense. I wonder how many payoffs went into Lockheed Martin getting that contract? I have no doubt that there are "commissions" paid on all that revenue. It is a shame that we don't have enough unity within this industry to fight this type or forced payoffs. It is nothing short of a shakedown.