ATA, Supply Chain Coalition: Cut Transportation Security Red Tape

More than 150 organizations with ties to the supply chain are calling on Congress to pass the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act, which would eliminate redundant fees and background checks for transportation workers such as TWIC and Hazmat Endorsements.

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December 6, 2023

ATA, Supply Chain Coalition: Cut Transportation Security Red Tape — The ATA and a coalition of more than 150 organizations and companies are asking Congress to pass the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act.
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The American Trucking Associations led more than 150 organizations representing trucking, rail, energy, organized labor, agriculture, third-party logistics providers, and other key supply chain stakeholders to urge Congress to pass the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act. The bill would eliminate redundant fees and background checks for essential transportation workers.

The bill — which was introduced by Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) and Adam Smith (D-WA) along with Representatives Mark Green (R-TN), Michael Guest (R-MS), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), and Dina Titus (D-NV) — would eliminate redundant fees and background checks for essential transportation workers.

The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act would cut through red tape to allow workers to apply existing valid background checks to multiple TSA-managed credentialing programs, such as the Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and Hazardous Materials Endorsements.

Eliminate Duplicative Background Screenings for Drivers

ATA said by eliminating duplicative screenings and harmonizing these programs, the bill would codify formal recommendations by the Government Accountability Office dating back to 2007. These recommendations were reaffirmed in 2020 in a comprehensive security assessment conducted by the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center.

“Subjecting essential supply chain workers to the same exact background check multiple times in order to receive different credentials from the same agency does nothing to enhance security,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This system only serves to pad government coffers by forcing truckers and other transportation workers to pay duplicative fees for a background check they’ve already cleared.

"Congress should not allow the inefficiencies of government bureaucracy to impede the efficiency of our supply chain, especially at the expense of those hardworking men and women who keep our economy running.”

Duplicate Security Screenings Cost Truckers Money, Time

ATA Chairman Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation, pointed out how these issues increase costs for drivers and fleets.

“Here is a perfect example of where Congress can make government work better to support the supply chain and essential, frontline workers who move our economy,” Boye said. “This common-sense, bipartisan bill provides a logical solution to fix some serious flaws in the credentialing process.”

ATA Vice Chairman Wes Davis, president of Big M Transportation, called the current system an onerous process that is “disruptive to supply chain continuity and deters many qualified drivers from obtaining the credentials required to move these critical loads.”

Representatives: Cut the Red Tape for Supply Chain Workers

“Ridiculous regulations and red tape have crushed America’s supply chain workers. We need to expedite the time it takes to put an essential worker into our workforce, not requiring people to stand in line for security credentials only to have them get back in line to obtain a redundant background check for another TSA credential,” said Rep. Garret Graves.

“The supply chain crisis has contributed to higher consumer costs and shortages, and this effort is part of the solution to make sure our transportation workforce is able to work at full speed," Graves said.

Rep. Adam Smith said he has heard from many transportation workers in his district who have had to spend a significant amount of time and money to keep their required credentials up to date.

"The legislation we introduced would create a more streamlined application and renewal process, reducing unnecessary hurdles for transportation workers, a crucial workforce in our economy,” he said, adding that he has the support of the Teamsters Transportation Trades Department, the AFL-CIO, the Washington State Labor Council, and the American Trucking Associations.

Streamline Security Process to Reduce Costs

ATA said this long-overdue reform would reduce costs and hassles for workers such as truck drivers, pipeline operators, longshoremen, and warehouse managers, who must obtain these credentials as a condition of employment.

The bill does not make any modifications to the backend security assessment conducted on individual applicants, ensuring that they undergo the same level of review as they do under current law.

Supporting organizations include: