WASHINGTON, (Aug. 11, 2004) — The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it has awarded a $12 million contract to BearingPoint, Inc. to begin the Prototype Phase of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).

The Prototype Phase is the third step in TSA’s development of a uniform identification credential for all transportation workers who require unescorted access to secure areas at seaports, airports, rail, pipeline, trucking and mass transit facilities.

The system will incorporate a TWIC card — a nationwide, tamper-resistant credential that contains biometric information about the credential holder. Through this biometric data, likely fingerprints, each transportation facility can verify the identity of a worker and prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing secure areas.

Prototype operations will be conducted in three regions at first: Camden, N.J., Islip, N.Y., Philadelphia, Pa., and Wilmington, Del.; the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif.; and the 14 major port facilities in the state of Florida. Participation is voluntary and will include truckers, longshoremen, and container terminal and airport personnel.

The TWIC card will be issued to transportation workers after a thorough screening for ties to terrorism. It will also eliminate the need for workers to obtain multiple credentials thereby making the identification process faster and more efficient, TSA says.

But it would likely create redundancy for Canadian cross-border drivers, who are already required to undergo similar extensive background checks in order to qualify for Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card. The Canadian Trucking Alliance has expressed concerns in the past, adding that there is presently no mechanism for Canadian truck drivers to even apply for a TWIC card.

The CTA has been in discussions with U.S. Homeland Security Officials over the last year about the possibility of dovetailing FAST into the TWIC system. While no announcement has been made yet, the feedback has been generally positive, CTA says.

“The U.S. does recognize the difficulties for a Canadian driver undergoing a U.S.-only security check when he’s already been checked by both Canadian and U.S. governments to get a FAST card … especially considering security arrangements for FAST are every bit as stringent,” CTA vice-president Graham Cooper told Today’s Trucking when asked about the ongoing discussions earlier this year.