House committee to consider SAFE Truckers Act

May 9, 2009
An amendment to a bill is being considered in Congress that would eliminate duplicative background checks for drivers and ensure that the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) would be the only credential required for drivers transporting hazardous materials.

An amendment to a bill is being considered in Congress that would eliminate duplicative background checks for drivers and ensure that the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) would be the only credential required for drivers transporting hazardous materials.

The National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) are urging their members to contact their representatives immediately and voice their support of the legislation.

Members of the House Homeland Security Committee are expected to consider the Transportation Security Administration Reauthorization Act (HR 2200) as early as the week of May 11. ATA said it expects Rep Dan Lungren (R-CA) to offer the SAFE Truckers Act as an amendment to that legislation.

If the legislation is eventually approved, it would preempt other state and local background checks and credentials when applied to drivers transporting hazardous materials.

Democratic members of the committee are listed online at hsc.house.gov. Republican members can be found online at chs-republicans.house.gov.