Hazmat Driver Screening Draws Calls for Clarifications

A new and quickly crafted anti-terrorism law requires the federal government to certify the backgrounds of drivers who haul hazardous materials, but there is no system in place to do so, according to government and industry officials, who say the law needs to be fixed.

The bill started in the House Oct. 23 and was signed by President Bush Oct. 26, after Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) added the trucking language.

Each state licenses truck and bus drivers. But when the federal law took immediate effect, three states — Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Connecticut —temporarily discontinued issuing commercial licenses with endorsements for transporting hazmats. Licensing officials said there was no way to check the applicants’ backgrounds.

This prompted a top Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration official to urge the states to continue to issue new, and renew old, CDLs under their usual procedures.

A House panel, meanwhile, is working with state licensing agencies and trucking and labor groups to develop legislation to respond to critics’ concerns, according to Justin Harclerode, a spokesman for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

For the full story, see the Nov. 5 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.