NTTC, others again seek streamlined security screening

National Tank Truck Carriers is renewing its call for streamlined driver credentialing.

The trade association recently joined American Trucking Associations and more than 150 other organizations representing key supply chain stakeholders to urge Congress to pass the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act, or H.R. 5840, introduced by a bipartisan group of representatives in September in the latest effort to eliminate redundant fees and background checks for essential transportation workers.

If it’s passed, the act would allow workers to enroll in more than one Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-managed credentialing program, such as the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) threat assessment programs, at the same time, with one background check.

“NTTC and many other stakeholders think we can do better,” Will Lusk, NTTC director of education and government relations, told Bulk Transporter. “If we can streamline the process, so we have one application visit, one application fee, and one expiration date for those credentials, we can ensure getting credentialed is as seamless as possible for drivers—without jeopardizing the safety and security of the United States.”

See also: NTTC comments on proposed HMR modernization

The bill, which seeks to codify Government Accountability Office recommendations that date back to 2007—and were reaffirmed three years ago in a comprehensive assessment conducted by the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center—was introduced by Reps. Garret Graves (R-La.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.), along with Reps. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), and Dina Titus (D-Nev.).

“Subjecting essential supply chain workers to the same exact background check multiple times in order to receive different credentials from the same agency does nothing to enhance security,” Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO, said in a news release. “This system only serves to pad government coffers by forcing truckers and other transportation workers to pay duplicative fees for a background check they’ve already cleared.

“Congress should not allow the inefficiencies of government bureaucracy to impede the efficiency of our supply chain, especially at the expense of those hardworking men and women who keep our economy running.”

The harmonization of duplicative and redundant background checks in the United States is among NTTC’s Tier 1 legislative and regulatory priorities, emphasizing the urgent need to address the issue, the association maintained. Along with saving companies time and money, H.R. 5840 would permit a streamlined credential renewal process and align the expiration dates for those individuals participating in multiple TSA programs.

See also: Coalition pressures Congress to streamline TSA credentialing

“NTTC is fully supportive of the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act—a common sense solution to address time and financial burdens for credentialing tank truck drivers,” Lusk said. “On behalf of America’s tank truck carriers and fleets, the association is grateful for the leadership of Reps. Graves, Smith, Titus, Green, Carbajal, and Guest for spearheading H.R. 5840. At a time where truck driver shortages are affecting the deliveries of vital commodities, this bill provides much needed relief that will ultimately benefit the American public at large.”

This long-overdue reform would reduce costs and hassles for workers like truck drivers, pipeline operators, longshoremen, and warehouse managers, among many others, who must obtain these credentials as a condition of employment, ATA added.

The bill does not make any modifications to the back-end security assessment conducted on individual applicants.

“Ridiculous regulations and red tape have crushed America’s supply chain workers,” Graves said. “We need to expedite the time it takes to put an essential worker into our workforce, not requiring people to stand in line for security credentials only to have them get back in line to obtain a redundant background check for another TSA credential. The supply chain crisis has contributed to higher consumer costs and shortages, and this effort is part of the solution to make sure our transportation workforce is able to work at full speed.

“I look forward to working with this strong group of bipartisan lawmakers to ensure that this legislation strengthens our economy and supply chain while reducing costs and headaches.”

Supporting organizations include:

1. AATCO
2. Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference
3. Agricultural Retailers Association
4. AgTC Agriculture Transportation Coalition
5. Alabama Trucking Association
6. Alaska Fuel Storage and Handlers Alliance
7. Alaska Trucking Association
8. Allied Van Lines
9. American Association of Port Authorities
10. American Chemistry Council
11. American Pyrotechnics Association
12. American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
13. American Trucking Associations
14. Arizona Moving Association
15. Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association
16. Arizona Trucking Association
17. Arkansas Oil Marketers Association, Inc.
18. Arkansas Trucking Association
19. Association of American Railroads
20. Automobile Carriers Conference
21. Baggett Transportation
22. Border Trade Alliance
23. California Trucking Association
24. Colorado Motor Carriers Association
25. Colorado Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
26. Connecticut Energy Marketers Association
27. Delaware Motor Transport Association
28. Empire State Energy Association, Inc.
29. Energy Marketers Association of Rhode Island
30. Energy Marketers of America
31. Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, Inc.
32. Florida Trucking Association
33. Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
34. FUELIowa
35. Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey
36. Fuel True: Independent Energy and Convenience of Kansas
37. Fueling Minnesota
38. Garner Trucking Ltd
39. Gases and Welding Distributors Association
40. Georgia Motor Trucking Association
41. Georgia Oilmen’s Association
42. Government Freight Conference
43. Harbor Trucking Association
44. Hawaii Energy Marketers Association
45. Hawaii Transportation Association
46. Idaho Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association
47. Idaho Trucking Association
48. Illinois Fuel & Retail Association
49. Illinois Trucking Association
50. Indiana Food & Fuel Association
51. Indiana Motor Truck Association
52. Institute of Makers of Explosives
53. Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference
54. International Brotherhood of Teamsters
55. International Longshore and Warehouse Union Washington Area District Council
56. Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
57. Iowa Motor Truck Association
58. Kansas Motor Carriers Association
59. Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association
60. Kentucky Trucking Association
61. Louisiana Motor Transport Association
62. Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association
63. Lynden Inc.
64. Maine Energy Marketers Association
65. Maine Motor Transport Association
66. Maryland Motor Truck Association
67. Michigan Petroleum Association / Michigan Association of Convenience Stores
68. Michigan Trucking Association
69. Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors’ Association
70. Minnesota Trucking Association
71. Mississippi Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores Association
72. Mississippi Trucking Association
73. Missouri Petroleum & Convenience Association
74. Missouri Trucking Association
75. Montana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
76. Montana Trucking Association
77. Motor Transport Association of Connecticut
78. Moving and Storage Conference
79. National Association of Chemical Distributors
80. National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
81. National Energy & Fuels Institute
82. National Industrial Transportation League
83. National Motor Freight Traffic Association
84. National Private Truck Council
85. National Propane Gas Association
86. National Tank Truck Carriers
87. National Van Lines
88. NATSO, Representing America’s Travel Plazas and Truckstops
89. Nebraska Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
90. Nebraska Trucking Association
91. Nevada Trucking Association
92. New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association
93. New Hampshire Motor Transport Association
94. New Jersey Motor Truck Association
95. New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association
96. New Mexico Trucking Association
97. North American Van Lines
98. North Carolina Petroleum & Convenience Marketers
99. North Carolina Trucking Association
100. North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association
101. North Dakota Motor Carriers Association
102. Ohio Energy & Convenience Association
103. Ohio Trucking Association
104. Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
105. Oklahoma Trucking Association
106. Oregon Fuels Association
107. Oregon Trucking Associations
108. Paxton Van Lines
109. Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
110. Pennsylvania Petroleum Association
111. Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama
112. Prestera Trucking Inc.
113. PTS Worldwide, Inc.
114. Radiopharmaceutical Shippers & Carriers Committee
115. Railway Supply Institute
116. Reify Solutions
117. Republic Moving & Storage
118. Rhode Island Trucking Association
119. SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers
120. SJ Transportation
121. South Carolina Convenience & Petroleum Marketers Association
122. South Carolina Trucking Association
123. South Dakota Petroleum & Propane Marketers Association
124. South Dakota Trucking Association
125. Tennessee Fuel and Convenience Store Association
126. Tennessee Trucking Association
127. Texas Food & Fuel Association
128. Texas Trucking Association
129. Transportation Intermediaries Association
130. Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
131. Tri-State Motor Transit Co.
132. Trucking Association of Massachusetts
133. Trucking Association of New York
134. Truckload Carriers Association
135. U.S. Chamber of Commerce
136. Utah Petroleum Marketers & Retailers Association
137. Utah Trucking Association
138. Vermont Fuel Dealers Association
139. Vermont Truck and Bus Association
140. Virginia Petroleum & Convenience Marketers Association
141. Virginia Trucking Association
142. Washington Independent Energy Distributors
143. Washington Movers Conference
144. Washington State Labor Council
145. Washington Trucking Associations
146. West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association
147. West Virginia Trucking Association
148. Western Petroleum Marketers Association
149. Wisconsin Fuel and Retail Association
150. Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association
151. Women in Motion
152. Wyoming Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association
153. Wyoming Trucking Association
154. 3GL, Ltd.