WASHINGTON — The largest trucking carriers in the U.S. say they’ll go along with one, and only one, security screening for transportation workers, including truck drivers.

The American Trucking Associations said this week that the Transportation Security Administration should implement a single, coordinated, cost-effective process for screening transportation workers that would enhance the nation’s security while minimizing unnecessary screening costs and procedures.

A biometric background check for truckers is
OK, says ATA. But leave it at just one

In written testimony submitted to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, ATA said multiple background checks for transportation workers, coupled with TSA’s “stovepipe” approach to security programs, generates excessive costs for the transportation industry. The trucking industry is willing to bear the cost of one, but not multiple, background checks and security credentials, ATA said.

“ATA does not oppose background checks of individuals in the trucking industry,” ATA said in its testimony. “ATA does oppose the wasteful expenditure of resources — both government and private sector — that comes with conducting multiple background checks of the same individual against the same databases.”

In recent years, multiple background checks that require applicants to appear at different enrollment facilities, adapt to different administrative procedures, and pay steep user fees have been imposed on truck drivers under a variety of mandates.

TSA, for example, has implemented different background check processes for truckers obtaining hazmat endorsements and going to secure airport areas, and now is implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for truckers transporting cargo in and out of “safety sensitive” areas such as seaports and intermodal facilities.

ATA believes TWIC that should streamline the screening process while trimming superfluous costs by consolidating the current multitude of mandated background checks into one screening that grants access to areas or goods in the transportation supply chain. Costs also should be minimized and spread evenly across all users, says ATA.

Canadian truckers agree. The Canadian Trucking Alliance has enlisted the help of the ATA in urging U.S. officials to accept the FAST card as a substitute for TWIC since the security screening protocols basically mirror each other. Over the last couple years, CTA has indicated that the Americans have warmed to the idea, but no decision has been made.