I picked up my card this week and in talking with the lady who activated it, I'm wondering what kind of a mess there will be. I was in Stockton, CA and she said they haven't processed that many cards, even people who work at the port.

Stockton and other west coast ports require the card as of the end of FEB. Without one you will require an escort by the port police. It looks to me like there is going to be a huge back up at the gate. She said the port police have told her they will only escort a driver twice into a particular port and then you're basically banned until you get the card.

Because I had just renewed my HazMat I saved a little money, it cost $105 instead of $130 and my card came in 10 days instead of 6-8 weeks. My company paid me $250 so I made money.

Just wondering how many OTR drivers have been into the ports that are already, "in compliance" and requiring the card?

 

I've been to 2 chemical plants in Chicago so far that have required it.

 

Last time I went to the port at Dundalk MD., around Dec. 20th, they did not ask for it. The whole thing is one huge money making scheme for the government. First you pay for a haz-mat background check and then they turn around and expect you to pay for this crap.

 

They require the TWIC at Baltimore and Savannah. We have lost a few loads due to not having the TWIC. I think that if most drivers refused to pay the TWIC tax they would stop the program. They would either need to stop it or freight would back up at those ports that require it. One interesting thing that happened to me earlier this week. I was offered a load coming out of one of the ports that required the card and they only wanted to pay just over $1/mile. issedoff:

 

I just delivered Friday at Camden Yards, NJ and it was required. I got this load because I was the only one of our company drivers in the area (Decatur, AL) that already had a TWIC in hand.

Got a load to pick up in Baltimore Monday morning and was told it would be required there also...

 

I suppose we need to decide if we want to pay the tax or not. There could be some opportunities in the short term to get freight out of the ports. Still it would be interesting to see if enough people decide to not participate to impact the program.

 

If I was an O/O I would probably be holding out too, but as a company driver (and you know how that goes) I was given the distinct impression that I should get it NOW.

I imagine that as time goes along most, if not all, of the larger companies will REQUIRE drivers to be TWIC cardholders...

 

Having just left the maritime industry to begin anew in OTR, I can tell you, TWIC is not going away. With the climate today regarding terrorism, illegal aliens, and the whole lot, it ain't goin away. The towboat company I just left is requiring all employees to get the card and there are over 9000 employess for this particular company. One of my good friends is an engineer for another towboat company that is held entirely by Cargill and they are now required to have it as well. I'm sure the "old timers" will have issues with it but for the newbies it's just another part of doing business.

 

Hey moth_bald! What company were you with. Both of my brothers are on the Ohio. One for AEP and one local at Parkersburg.

Good luck telling these diehards anything. They fail to realize that the TWIC applies to much more than trucking.......

 

I have my MMD from when i worked on tugs. I got a letter in the mail from the coast guard saying that if i dont get a TWIC by april 15, 2009 they will void my MMD. All the BS i had to go threw to get my MMD im not going to have it voided over something dumb like a twic. I will just pay the 130 bucks and call it a day.:thumbsup: