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Commercial truck drivers who want to renew or transfer their licenses to transport hazardous materials must undergo mandatory fingerprint and background checks, under a new rule implemented by the Transportation Security Administration this week.

TSA estimates there are about 2.7 million truckers licensed to carry hazardous materials. The new rule is the third and final phase of the agency's Hazmat Threat Assessment Program. In January, TSA began requiring truckers applying for the first time for a license to ship hazardous materials to submit fingerprints and undergo a background check.

"TSA has successfully vetted tens of thousands of new applicants who began the process in January 2005, and we look forward to beginning the process for renewing and transferring driver endorsements," said TSA Administrator David Stone.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the largest national organization of truckers, recently called on TSA to protect the privacy of hazmat drivers. The association has more than 118,000 members.

"Privacy is the most important issue for truck drivers concerned about the impending background checks," the association said in comments to TSA in December. "Their biggest worry is that private information will be misused or that incorrect or ambiguous information will become attached to their professional reputation and work history. Either scenario could put an end to a trucking career."

The top priority for truckers is that TSA will not give the information used to assess their backgrounds to third parties, the association said.

Truckers must renew licenses to carry hazardous materials at least once every five years, although a state may require more frequent renewals. If TSA disqualifies an applicant, the driver can appeal the finding or seek a waiver from the agency.

TSA implemented the program to meet the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, which prohibits states from issuing a hazardous materials endorsement to a trucker without first determining whether or not the individual poses a security risk.

COMMENTS

• all you are doing is making it very hard for average parents in this country to make an honest living because i am a father of 5 sitting waiting on my background check to come back so in the mean time i sit unemployed till somebody in this country fixes all these stupid issues we have. supertrucker Posted November 13, 2008 6:19 PM
• How stupid. Many companies hire drivers with limited criminial history. The federal government has even financially supported and provided funds to train drivers who have been released from prison in order that they can gain employment. Does a criminal record of petty theft make them a terrorist? I hardly think so. The one writer is correct. The inmates run the asylum and think both are located in Washington. Some of the largest trucking companies in this country employ drivers with criminal back- grounds. Charlie Posted June 13, 2005 10:31 PM
• Great! Now the TSA should also check on the backgrounds of those with access to ramps and other sensitive areas at our airports and seaports. I know Customs tried several years ago, and conducted background checks on personnel with access to Customs security areas at JFK and other international airports. However, the checks found too many employees with criminal records. The airlines and service contractors screamed bloody murder, and the program was eliminated, supposedly due to "budget problems". Maybe the TSA will have the political backing to stand up to these special interests, and actually do the right thing for this country. Then again, based upon past history, probably not. GovExec.com reader Posted June 3, 2005 3:42 PM