Some States Not Ready for Next Fingerprint Deadline

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ith the federal deadline fast approaching for states to begin fingerprinting hazardous materials drivers, industry officials said it may already be too late for all states to launch the program on time.

States are supposed to start using fingerprints by next Jan. 31 to check new and renewing applicants for hazmat-hauling endorsements to commercial driver licenses, under a regulation the Transportation Security Administration issued last spring.

However, in many cases the people at the state and local level who process CDLs needed new authority in state law to put fingerprinting into effect, and state agencies have said they needed funds to cover the added equipment and training costs.

Cliff Harvison, president of the National Tank Truck Carriers, said last week that many states “may get caught in a time warp” because their legislative schedules might not allow them to meet the TSA deadline.

For the full story, see the Sept. 20 edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.