Hazmat Carriers Eye Potential Risks From Background-Check Deadlines

aulers of hazardous materials said they were still looking to the federal government last week for word on the looming deadlines for driver background checks, but they differed on how business would be affected if some were disqualified.

The Transportation Security Administration has said all hazmat drivers must clear a name-based background check by Sept. 2, but by last week “we haven’t heard anything from anyone” about those checks, said Al Mobley, safety director for Transland Inc. of Springfield, Mo.

Mobley said Transland was “confident” its 200 drivers would have no problem passing the TSA screening, as the company had been conducting driver checks for years through its local police department.

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