ATA Backs Single Process for Screening Transport Workers

merican Trucking Associations said the Transportation Security Administration should implement a single, coordinated, cost-effective process for screening transportation workers that ensures security while minimizing unnecessary screening costs and procedures.

In written testimony submitted to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Tuesday, ATA said multiple background checks for transportation workers, coupled with TSA’s “stovepipe” approach to security programs, generates excessive costs for the transportation industry.

The trucking industry is willing to bear the cost of one, but not multiple, background checks and security credentials, ATA said.

The group “does oppose the wasteful expenditure of resources — both government and private sector — that comes with conducting multiple background checks of the same individual against the same databases.”

ATA said the Transportation Worker Identification Credential should streamline screening while trimming costs. The TWIC should consolidate the current multitude of federally mandated background checks into one check, it said.