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Mar 3, 2009 9:04 AM

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is applauding the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) effort to review a requirement for duplicative background checks for commercial truck drivers.

"Not forcing some TWIC (Transportation Workers Identification Credential) holders to undergo two identical background checks will bring much needed relief to all motor carriers, especially the vast number of small carriers in the industry," said Charles (Shorty) Whittington, Grammer Industries Inc president and ATA chairman. "Congress authorized the combination of these programs as part of implementing the recommendations of the 911 Commission Act of 2007. Section 1556 of the Act states that TWIC holders 'shall be deemed to have met the background records required' to carry hazardous materials.

"Although implementing Section 1556 does not solve the overall balkanization of transportation security, it represents a significant first step in moving towards a single uniform credential for transportation security.”

The SBA has added the dual background check requirements to its top 10 list of burdensome federal regulations. The agency’s Office of Advocacy announced that a rule to eliminate that duplication was added to its regulatory review and reform initiative top 10 list.

The list is of changes that, if adopted by federal agencies, would reduce the cumulative and costly regulatory burden on small businesses, ATA said.

The selection, one of two named to the initiative, advocates eliminating Transportation Security Administration requirements that a commercial truck driver who holds a valid TWIC also must undergo a duplicative security background check when they apply for a hazardous materials endorsement. Congress authorized eliminating this duplication in 2007. SBA estimates that implementing this rule will save the trucking industry up to $150 million over five years.