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Dec 6, 2004 1:10 PM

Citing potential disruptions and hardship on drivers, National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) has asked the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for an indefinite postponement of proposed fingerprint-based criminal background checks for drivers who need a hazmat endorsement on their commercial driver licenses.

TSA regulations call for such checks to begin January 31, 2005, for new applications and March 31, 2005, for renewals and license transfers.

In it's filing, NTTC noted that the program has been plagued with many false starts. NTTC added that "one pivotal element has been pushed off to the side, namely the impact on the nation's driver corps."

NTTC said that while the individual states have an option to either perform the fingerprinting and associated paperwork or cede the tasks to an unnamed TSA Agent, there are a very limited number of working days until the regulatory deadlines kicks in and most states have yet to announce definitive plans for implementation.

Furthermore, TSA's most recent ruling did not include any direction or guidance regarding Canadian and Mexican drivers involved in cross-border hazmat operations. For example, the Canadian Border Services Agency estimates that about 80,000 Canadian drivers cross the northern border annually, NTTC said.

Click here to see the NTTC comments.