Letter to the Editor: The New Reality

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understand everyone’s concern about the increased cost for licenses as a result of the fingerprint and background checks that are required for hazardous materials endorsements, but get over it; it’s a done deal.

While many trucking companies are not going to pay directly for the cost of the endorsement, some are instituting pay adjustments that will allow drivers to recover their cost.

With such a high turnover rate in the industry, it is no wonder companies will not pay directly, because the odds are the driver will be moving on and the company will have spent the money without the opportunity to recover it.

However, I think everyone agrees that terrorists can steal a load and do a lot of damage without a hazmat endorsement, or a license for that matter. The twin towers did not come down at the hands of licensed pilots.

Todd Baker

i>Director of Training

nd Placement

iesel Driving Academey

aton Rouge, La.

i>This letter appeared in the May 16 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.