Security Clearances, TWIC Cards, & Hazmat/Tanker Endorsements

Currently, I'm in driving school. My plan, so far, is to flatbed once completed. Obviously, already thinking ahead here...

Hazmat/Tanker Endorsement: Makes more sense to just get the duo together then both separate ("X" endorsement.) I have no interest at this time to obtain nor to drive either, though I understand it may create more opportunities. I don't think I should be concerned with this now as a future flatbedder, so I'll be stingy with my money and say "Nah, it can wait."

TWIC Card: Not sure it will come in handy for flatbedder since it seems more tied in the intermodal department, but it makes more sense to have in possession. However, I'm aware there were massive flaws with the chips and all the cards needed replacing in 2015, rendering it pretty much more problematic than simplified for the card-holders. Assuming the flaws has been corrected and newly issued cards are fine, is it smart/worth shelling out for it now while still in school?

Secret Security Clearance: I don't believe I can pick up secret transport loads at this current time for... Well, not sharing so y'all have the plausible deniability here, haha! (No, no need to get paranoid; has to do with pets -- but if I didn't have pets accompanying, then zero issues here.) But, it'd be mad cool if I did have such clearance readied. ["Hell yeah, i get into places you can't even come near, na na! And nope, can't tell ya or I'd hafta kill ya!" kind of ego. LOL] Since right now I'm only planning on OTR for a year and unsure yet of when i resume grad school (whether I'd take regional or local jobs then, or what I'd do over breaks), would it be worth it to get it now, so it's out of the way as well? Also, money.

To be clear -- TWIC cards and Security Clearance are completely separate, right? I get not being able to use TWIC as Security Clearance, but can the Security Clearance be used when TWIC is called for?

Additionally as side note, Passports: Mine is still good into 2018, so I already have this to (perhaps?) create more opportunities, such as travel into Canada. Maybe even Alaska, too?! Oh my. Even if I weren't traveling across country borders, I believe I'd be correct to think a current passport has become a "must" these days, even if the government hasn't made it a law to carry one yet.

Anyway -- thoughts, comments, stuff.....??? For myself and those coming into the trucking industry as to what's worth it, what can (should/shouldn't?) wait, and whether it really does or doesn't help our opportunities with our job hunts and future loads.

Thank you in advance!!

Even in flatbed hazmat and tanker are good endorsments to have. There are quite a few hazmat loads I've seen on flatbeds and tanker is required if you haul tanks over a certain gallon amount. As for the twic card I don't have one but again it is one that could come in handy because you can haul containers on a stepdeck I think. I know I've seen it especially around Chicago lol.

I know these aren't typical loads for a flatbed and depending on company policies they might not give them to a new driver but it is definitely something to think about.

My understanding is these things are obtained by the self, not through company. So whether to already have them before even being hired...? Hmm. The Hazmat/tanker, I know... Just don't think it's a priority to obtain for the one year I'm OTR'ing. I'd think TWIC would be more the priority here. If I was rich enough, it wouldn't matter -- just shell out for all of it. LOL

We always recommend that people get all of the endorsements. You really have no clue going into this what you're going to be doing even 6 - 12 months from now. Everyone has preconceived notions of what trucking will be like and what they'll be doing but that can change 180 degrees once you get out there and experience it. The endorsement tests are short, easy written exams and once you have the endorsements you have them for life, except Hazmat which has to be renewed every couple of years.

But right now is the time to get them, while you're in study and test mode. Once you start driving you're going to be so unbelievably busy and your home time will be so precious and valuable that the last thing you're going to want to do is start digging through more training materials and spending more time at the Motor Vehicle Department. Get it all out of the way now.

I'll be stingy with my money and say "Nah, it can wait."

You're basically saying you're going to save money by keeping $20 in your pocket now but limiting your long term career opportunities. That's shortsighted. Make your decisions pay off for the long term.

I also see you did a chunk of our High Road Training Program but you didn't do the flatbed sections which you're going to need if that's what you want to do:

Flatbed Cargo Securement

New York State Coil Endorsement

Study like crazy! Get it all out of the way now. I'm tellin ya, once you get out there and start driving you're going to face an awful lot of 18 hour days. The last thing on Earth you're going to have the time or energy to do is pull out more books and do more studying.

As Brett (and many others) advise - better to have and not need, than to need and not have. This works for endorsements too. Especially if your company has a bunch of trucks in an area with slow outbound freight - and you're the only one with the proper endorsements to grab a load that gets you back into the busy lanes.

Also - as Brett mentioned - you have no idea where you're going to be down the road. The more endorsements you have, the more opportunities you can create for yourself down the line.

The HazMat is the most costly (for background check, etc.) and difficult, as far as how much information is covered. Drill using the High Road Training Program section on HM and you shouldn't have any issues.

Tanker is pretty easy, and is good to have (along with HM) for portable tanks that can get strapped onto a flatbed.

TWIC card isn't just for ports - it's considered a pre-clearance for other government-type installations. Also gets you into the "crew express line" at airport TSA checkpoints (not that you'd use that much in a truck). I believe if you get your TWIC fairly recently before you apply for your HM, you can get your HM background discounted - since the same agency does the same BG for both. You can get a TWIC, without having a CDL , and really, for any reason - in fact, you don't need a reason at all to get one. Most PORTS require their own separate entry credentials, or you get a temp with you need to get on (which may or may not require an escort).

Current Passport is always good to have. I can serve in place of a birth certificate (for most trucking companies) and as a primary/secondary form of ID. I have both the book and the card - carry the card all the time. The card will get you across Canadian border, so you don't need to carry the book with you for US/Canada travel.

I've never actually seen a "Secret Security Clearance" as it relates to trucking. I've held one in the military, because I worked on electronics and crypto gear (actually, higher than Secret). Nor have I seen the mechanism where you just apply for one. If you company carries High Value/Security loads - they will obtain the necessary clearances for you. Usually this kind of stuff is not loaded on ROOKIES anyways, and a lot of companies that do these types of loads have a special division that handles them. Hauling Military Vehicles on an RGN or Drop Deck, usually doesn't require anything special.

Best of luck, keep us posted...

Rick

I got all of my endorsements upfront. In my first 10 weeks Solo w/ Swift, I have hauled 4 Haz Mat loads already. My vote is get them all.

^^^^^ This...

Keep in mind, as we always tell people. HazMat is not always spent nuclear reactor fuel, high explosives, etc.

Many common household items (bleach, car batteries, etc.) in TRUCKLOAD QUANTITIES are HM loads.

Sometimes getting a load over another driver is as easy as: hmmm, 5 trucks in a 50 mile radius of an HM pickup - only 1 driver has HM endorsement (or tank, etc,).

Rick

Flatbed does use twic to get into ports which have more than containers btw. It basically opens up more loads for you. Also, get your endorsements now as they are cheaper before your hard copy cdl is printed.

^^^^^ This...

Keep in mind, as we always tell people. HazMat is not always spent nuclear reactor fuel, high explosives, etc.

Many common household items (bleach, car batteries, etc.) in TRUCKLOAD QUANTITIES are HM loads.

Sometimes getting a load over another driver is as easy as: hmmm, 5 trucks in a 50 mile radius of an HM pickup - only 1 driver has HM endorsement (or tank, etc,).

Rick

That is exactly right. My last HazMat load was 40,000 + lbs of Clorox laundry bleach. Swift pays a flat rate of $35.00 for HazMat loads. That is 7 cpm on a 500 mile run. I'll never get rich on it but it may be Resume' Candy in the future?

I only have the tanker endorsement and never renewed my passport. My company keeps me running so I'm happy. Never felt the need to do it and costs differ from state to state. NJ is expensive.

The TWIC I use regularly both for shipping ports and deliveries to military installations. I have done a few runs to ft Knox and others. My company has a TWIC office on the terminal so getting one was easy.