The United States Senate this week tabled an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that would have required trucks transporting hazardous materials to be equipped with global positioning satellite tracking devices.

The bill also would have required route plans to be prepared and filed with DHS prior to transporting hazardous materials. It also would have expanded DHS background checks to include all CDL holders.
The amendment, introduced last Thursday by Sen. Charles Schumer D-N.Y., was tabled by a vote of 55 to 34.
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill will now go to conference with the House of Representatives. In response to initial lobbying by the trucking industry, Sen. Schumer modified his amendment by removing language requiring the establishment of an identification and tracking system for hazmat trucks and mandating background checks for all CDLs. ATA continued to oppose modified language in the revised amendment, which provided funds for the Transportation Security Administration to "support efforts to identify and track shipments of hazardous materials and continue and expand upon the background check system for commercial driver licenses with a hazmat endorsement."
For more information ATA members can contact Rich Moskowitz at (703) 838-1910 or rmoskowitz@trucking.org.