In The News

Bill Would Address Redundant Background Checks

The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed a bill that would address the issue of redundant background checks for port and hazmat truck drivers.

H.R. 2200, which reauthorized spending for the Transportation Security Administration, also "creates a sensible approach to performing criminal background checks for port and hazmat truck drivers, eliminating redundant checks and prohibiting states from requiring separate background checks for transportation security cards," noted the Teamsters union, which issued a statement supporting the bill.

The bill would require motor vehicle operators licensed in the United States, Mexico, or Canada that transport security sensitive materials (SSMAT) in the United States to obtain a transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) from TSA, which truckers and other workers at the nation's ports are already required to do.

Getting a TWIC requires a security background check. Under current law, most operators who transport hazardous materials already must have a hazardous materials endorsement on their commercial driver's license. With this bill, operators that have a hazmat endorsement would not have to submit to a background check to receive a TWIC. Most drivers who transport SSMAT already have a hazmat endorsement.