Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Dec. 8, 2023:
A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would cut redundant fees and background checks for workers applying to multiple Transportation Security Agency-managed credentialing programs, such as the Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) and the program for hazmat endorsements.
The so-called "Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act" would allow workers to apply existing valid background checks to multiple TSA programs rather than having to have a new background check when applying for each program.
The bill was introduced by Reps. Garret Graves (R-Louisiana) and Adam Smith (D-Washington), along with Reps. Mark Green (R-Tennessee), Michael Guest (R-Mississippi), Salud Carbajal (D-California), and Dina Titus (D-Nevada).
“I’ve heard from many transportation workers in my district who have had to spend a significant amount of time and money to keep their required credentials up to date,” Smith said. “The legislation we introduced would create a more streamlined application and renewal process, reducing unnecessary hurdles for transportation workers, a crucial workforce in our economy.”
The bill does not make any changes to the back-end security assessment conducted on individual applicants, ensuring that applicants must undergo the same level of review as they do under current law. It simply modernizes the consumer-facing applicant process to reduce the burden on transportation workers who must maintain more than one TSA credential.
The bill has received support from more than 150 associations, Smith said, including the American Trucking Associations, numerous state trucking associations, the Teamsters union and more.
