TWIC Card: What Is It, Do I Need One, And How Do I Get One?
Topic 28907 | Page 1
A TWIC is a Transportation Worker Identity Card. This card is issued by the United States Transportation Security Administration and the United States Coast Guard. Individuals must have a TWIC to gain access to secure maritime facilities. These often include ships, ferries, dockside warehouses and port customs offices.Sep 9, 2020
As I look to check the remaining few boxes before I leap into the industry (school complete, every available endorsement earned, CDL test completed and license earned, Passport updated, birth certificate and Social Security card within arm’s reach), I hear and read about a mysterious document called a TWIK card. What does it do, how does it help me and how do I apply for one?
I’ll hang up and listen...thanks in advance...
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
You may (or may not) need one - depending on where you hire onto.
Doesn't hurt to have one anyways (aside from the $$ it costs, and the wait for it to come in).
RIght now (at least down here) the government contracts out to a company that does passport, TWIC and other government credential applications.
More information - including where you can get one can be found on the official TSA site: https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic (wouldn't let me post the link).
Rick
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
I got my HazMat and TWIC soon after getting my CDL. The TWIC card "opened a door" for me, so to speak. I had a cushy local job hauling specialty grains to ports from mills. I'm sure it will come in handy again when I drive for a regional carrier. They have some premium runs that haul meat to NY state then bring fish back.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
With my TWIC card I was able to get a regional job at 60 cents/mile guaranteed 2300 miles a week right out of CDL school. 100% no touch freight as well.
So yes my TWIC open a door for me.
Absolutely get one if you can.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Thanks to all for the responses. I have an 11:30 appointment tomorrow. I’m guessing that if I was greenlit (sic) for my HazMat endorsement I’ll be approved for this as well.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Prime requires a TWIC card. It is not needed often. I think I've used mine 4 times in 2 years. Once, I had misplaced it. The fee to get into the Port of Wilmington was high (I forget how much) and I was required to have a security escort lead me to my door and sit with me on the dock while I was being loaded. Then he escorted me out after I was loaded. The whole process was a pain in the neck. It is easier with a TWIC card.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
When I originally got mine at the company I used to work for they paid for it.
It does make going in and out of ports so much easier so definitely worth having if it’s something you can afford which some people becoming drivers don’t have the means to get it by themselves for their first couple of weeks in the industry.
For me I didn’t have to pay for mine but even if I did have to it would’ve paid for itself after the first two uses because when you go into ports if you don’t have one you have to pay an escort fee and those fees range anywhere from $35-$175
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I drive for Prime but live near a port. I use it often as a load getting me off home time. I have also used it at military bases like Ft Knox (didnt see the gold) as well as Boston 's Market...that was funny.
It was black at 3 am and it was t well lit. I walked to a security shack not knowing if it was the right place. A Russian man asked "You have money? Then you in right place".
I messaged dispatch, "Boris the Russian mob boss just extorted me out of $25. Please be sure to reimburse me or he might break someone's legs."
Im crazy I know. Lol
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I drive for Prime but live near a port. I use it often as a load getting me off home time. I have also used it at military bases like Ft Knox (didnt see the gold) as well as Boston 's Market...that was funny.
It was black at 3 am and it was t well lit. I walked to a security shack not knowing if it was the right place. A Russian man asked "You have money? Then you in right place".
I messaged dispatch, "Boris the Russian mob boss just extorted me out of $25. Please be sure to reimburse me or he might break someone's legs."
Im crazy I know. Lol
How do you know it wasn't Daniel B.???
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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As I look to check the remaining few boxes before I leap into the industry (school complete, every available endorsement earned, CDL test completed and license earned, Passport updated, birth certificate and Social Security card within arm’s reach), I hear and read about a mysterious document called a TWIK card. What does it do, how does it help me and how do I apply for one?
I’ll hang up and listen...thanks in advance...
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: