Is A TWIC Card Worth It?
Topic 34004 | Page 1
Depends on what the company pays. I had my TWIC card and ran the Port of Oakland every week for a company 5 years ago and they were paying .49 cpm....slightly below average. Other container companies were in the same ballpark as the one I was driving for.
I left them and drove 3.5 years for another company and went back to running containers to the Port of Oakland. I ran 18 months for them and that company started me out at 52 cents and when I left the day before this past Thanksgiving, I was making 54 cents. Took winter off and started 1 Feb driving dry van and am making .57 cpm.
Stick with Melton for another year or two and become a top-tier driver to make more money. You can change companies all the time to make more money, but in reality you are starting pretty much at the bottom at the new company and you have to work you're way up to make better money.
Laura
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
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.
A TWIC card is used for access to seaports. Probably a HAZMAT endorsement on your license would be better. Hazardous transport can be from anywhere to anywhere, as opposed to just seaports. Cost is about the same.
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
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.
If your company goes to ports, chemical plants, refineries, or military bases the TWIC card gets you on annd off without paying for an escort. Those fees can get pricey depending on the facility.
Without it the company probably won’t give you that load unless they have no other option.
I get many loads a year from one customer because I’m the only local driver that has one and the port in New Orleans charges 200.00 for an escort.
Errol brought up hazmat also. If your company is hazmat certified you may not make more directly by having it, but you will make more indirectly by being available for those loads instead of sitting waiting for a non haz load. Get tanker along with it. Liquid in totes put in a van, reefer , or flatbed still require a tanker endorsement.
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
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
In just under three years, I have used my TWIC card once, during work. However, the numbers on the back, are also able to be used for the "trusted traveler" program when you fly. I didn't notice a change in the small town Podunk airport I flew out of last, but it is good info to know.
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.
Hi, my name is Jeremy I'm a new driver. I work for Melton Truck Lines. I heard that having a TWIC card helps you earn more money throughout your career depending on the company you work for. Is this true and if so how much more can one make per year by having a TWIC card?
It’s worth it to have if your company ever goes to the ports and especially if your company pays for it. Once you have it it’s good for several years and even if you use it only once it basically pays for itself.
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.
NaeNae shares a secret:
However, the numbers on the back {of your TWIC card}, are also able to be used for the "trusted traveler" program when you fly
Same is true for a HAZMAT endorsement. You get to skip a lot of waiting and keep your shoes on by going through the PreCheck line.
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
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.
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Hi, my name is Jeremy I'm a new driver. I work for Melton Truck Lines. I heard that having a TWIC card helps you earn more money throughout your career depending on the company you work for. Is this true and if so how much more can one make per year by having 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.